Informatics Solutions to Help Contract Laboratories Thrive Under Pressure
An advanced LIMS can help contract labs overcome challenges and support growth
Original source, Lab Manager Magazine, December 2024 (Volume 19, Issue 10)
Contract research and testing laboratories are under constant pressure to meet client expectations while also keeping up to date on regulatory changes and managing multiple projects and costs. A robust laboratory information management system (LIMS) is essential to effectively manage contract testing, whether in-house or outsourced. It enables labs to deliver accurate, reproducible data faster, with detailed reporting and configuration options. The right informatics solution can help laboratories overcome several key operational challenges and support the organization’s growth.
Challenge: Meeting increasing demand and client expectations
Faster turnaround times can give a lab an edge in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Labs that have streamlined, efficient workflows and reporting methods are better able to respond to client needs quickly. This allows them to stand out by prioritizing both speed and quality for their clients.
Businesses are also evolving and becoming more agile, and labs are adopting advanced technologies including automation, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. As a result, clients expect real-time status updates on analyses and projects. Labs that meet these new expectations can positively impact a client’s ability to make decisions and remain competitive within their own industries and markets.
Solution: Enhanced LIMS for greater efficiency
An enhanced LIMS has several capabilities that can help labs achieve faster turnaround times. For example, reporting takes a considerable amount of time and is still subject to human error. A LIMS that supports automatic data capture throughout testing accelerates the time it takes to complete reporting while also reducing errors. Resource management is a time-consuming endeavor that can also be addressed with a comprehensive LIMS. By choosing a LIMS solution with resource management capabilities, labs can alleviate staff from having to manually manage this task, help to control costs, and ensure supplies and reagents are stocked to prevent detrimental delays.
To meet client needs with quicker turnaround times, labs require a high degree of flexibility and efficiency. A quality LIMS must equip labs to quickly adapt processes and create configurable workflows. Additionally, an advanced LIMS platform allows clients to communicate quickly and easily with clients, submit requests, and access real-time results. This capability has the added benefit of eliminating time spent creating and sending reports and will be a true asset for the future of digital labs.
