With Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS software), laboratories can now deal with the ever-increasing data volumes by linking sample files with experiments and easily integrating and sharing information across the different lab departments. However, with the plenty of software solutions available in the market, it is a critical automation strategy choice for labs. Therefore, this article will help you by providing a brief overview of LIMS, their main features, how to choose the best LIMS, and the top LIMS software in 2022. Keep reading to discover how can LIMS software be effective for your growth.
What are Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)?
Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), also known as Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), sometimes referred to as Laboratory Management Systems (LMS), are software solutions designed to help labs in day-to-day operations. Moreover, they manage everything, for instance, data and samples tracking, processes and activities streamlining, and much more.
Various labs can use LIMS software. For example, clinics, hospitals, and research labs by researchers across multiple scientific disciplines. Consequently, LIMS software offer a breadth of customized functionalities depending on the industry. Here are some types of facilities that use LIMS:
- Food and beverage testing labs
- R&D labs
- Clinics and clinical labs
- Biobanks
- Forensic labs
- Manufacturing labs
In short, the history of LIMS software began in 1982 when labs started to use automated reporting tools, which were introduced with centralised minicomputers. LIMS systems have become very advanced in meeting the rapidly evolving modern lab environment.
LIMS software's main features
Lab IMS are built as a complete platform to optimise tracking and management. In-depth further, LIMS are featured with the following identifiable characteristics:
- Sample management: LIMS systems include registration, recording, and monitoring of samples at all times.
- Data tracking: LIMSs track, store, and manage data from experiment results and record it in one location.
- Instrument & equipment integration: they secure the integration and configurability between all lab equipment instrumentations.
- Reports and analytics: LIMS are featured with tools to generate detailed and easy-to-understand information.
- Quality control: LIMS allow you to conduct assessments to inspect and approve results.
- Queries and data retrieval: This is the most important feature that a LIMS must provide since researchers must go through all types of data to come up with conclusions. Thus, a LIMS with a powerful query feature will enable you to search for data using a name, number, ID, location, sample type, etc. This feature shows all the benefits from the efforts put into data entry and allows reporting to validate data.
- Inventory tracking: LIMS has the feature of inventory handling.
- SOP guidelines: LIMS make sure to create documentation that compliance the requirements of ISO, FDA, HIPAA, etc.
How to choose the best LIMS software?
Choosing the best LIMS software for your facility can be challenging since numerous highly competitive solutions exist. Hence, it is essential to consider the following key factors:
- Security: this factor is crucial; thus, some LIMS offer encryption to secure data.
- Flexibility: LIMS users have different requirements; therefore, a good LIMS comes with a configurable workflow and layouts to assure system adaptation to lab needs.
- Storage: for data storage, LIMS offer two options: cloud-based or on-premises.
- Price: LIMS prices are relative to subscription plans and the number of users. For an annual plan, prices can go from $200 per user to $15,000 per user. If you are on a budget, you may consider free and open source LIMS
The Best 22 Laboratory Information Management Systems
Now that we have a clear concept of LIMS software and their main features, we will next find the best available solutions:
Apex LIS
Apex LIS is a medical lab solution by Apex Healthware LLC. Perfect for health care industries allowing for COVID testing, data security, CLIA compliance suite, EMR interfaces, and automated specimen storage. Furthermore, Apex LIS has an easy-to-use application with a quick installation. Apex LIS comes as a web-based or an in-house solution. Delightfully, it has a simple configuration allowing you to meet your workflow quickly.
Di-LIMS
Di-LIMS from DiData is a flexible Laboratory Information Management System. It is used by biobanks, hospitals, and medical labs. Offering them vast customisation options to meet their workflow needs. Di-LIMS ranked among the top 10 LIMS for Biobanks due to its powerful features:
- It has a friendly UI and an intuitive workflow with the quickest response time.
- It is a scalable system with managing abilities to increase or decrease data.
- Di-LIMS has smart search and filtering options.
- It integrates with lab instruments efficiently.
ApolloLIMS
ApolloLIMS is designed to match the necessities of health labs. It is an excellent solution for all small and large lab sizes, but it can quickly meet their aspects. ApolloLIMS software features specimen and result processing, QC, testing, and reporting. Impressively, ApolloLIMS enables you to check historical and original data simultaneously.
Benchling
Benchling is a cloud-based platform dedicated to the R&D life cycle. Scientists use it as a modern solution that gathers all R&D workflows in a single place. It is featured with API usage and lab automation, besides many other features making it a top R&D platform globally. Benchling is integrated with the following applications: Registry, Inventory, Notebook, Workflows, Insights, and Molecular Biology.
CGM LABDAQ
CGM LABDAQ is a powerful LIS by CompuGroup Medical. It is suitable for all lab sizes; since it meets different lab environments such as toxicology, health centres, clinics, testing labs, and veterinary offices. CGM LABDAQ is designed with plenty of tools to optimise profitability.
CloudLIMS
CloudLIMS, as the name refers, it is a SaaS LIMS offering a cloud-based solution. It has excellent instrument integration along with solid data security. This SaaS permits you to use templates for reporting. In addition, it helps you with data backups, which is very handy for biobanks. It is featured with workflow automation that meets compliance like ISO and CLIA.
Clustermarket
Clustermarket, previously known as Bookkit, designed by Clustermarket, is a management platform for science labs that aims to bring all in one place. It is an advanced solution to lead research into the digital age since it focuses on bringing data, people, and equipment together to facilitate management for scientists.
CrelioHealth
CrelioHealth, previously known as LiveHealth, is a web-based LIS. It is a mobile-ready lab solution designed by Creliant Software Pvt Ltd. CrelioHealth was built to improve the patient experience; therefore, it is packed with features ideal for diagnostics, radiology, and pathology centres. Additionally, CrelioHealth meets compliance, be it HIPAA and ISO.
Dendi LIS
Dendi LIS is a web-based modern LIS by Dendi that focuses on supporting lab growth by integrating lab ecosystem parts for automation. It is empowered by: API usage, patient portals; moreover, integrations for instruments, HL7, and billing.
Exemplar LIMS
Exemplar LIMS is a LIMS system from Sapio Sciences that comes with extreme configurability to help clinical labs manage data in a better way. With its workflow templates, Exemplar LIMS allows for streamlining the clinical operations and sample processing. Besides, it runs based on the cloud.
FindMolecule
FindMolecule is a LIMS solution devoted to chemical labs; therefore, it is mainly used by biologists and chemists. It authorizes them to do everything from inventory, order managing, barcode scanning, data tracking, security, etc.
FreezerPro
Work with frozen samples? Then, FreezerPro is a powerful management system that will leverage your lab performance. FreezerPro is a modern web-based software which allows you to monitor samples and manage data.
LabCollector LIMS
AgileBio offers LabCollector LIMS, a laboratory information management system that functions on-premises or cloud-based. This lab app allows scientists to manage data by analysing, saving, or sharing it. LabCollector LIMS is built with features that streamline workflows, expand collaboration, and sort data.
Labguru
Labguru by BioData is an all-in-one web-based solution. Where it's a LIMS, an electronic lab notebook (ELN), and an informatics platform. Labguru presents a complete solution for managing data, inventory, lab automation, insights, workflow, dashboards, and more. Since it exists as a cloud-based solution, Labguru is also available on desktops and mobile devices.
LabVantage
Another all-in-one system is LabVantage, offering a range of solutions, including LIMS, ELN, and business intelligence. This could-based platform supports researchers through flexibility, QC, inventory management, and workflow automation. LabVantage performs effectively when it comes to lab monitoring and auditing. Besides, it supports integration with instruments and other systems.
LabWare LIMS
LabWare is one of the world’s top LIMS, operating for more than 30 years. It is a SaaS lab automation that ensures compliance, data integrity, and deployment flexibility. LabWare runs on desktops besides mobile devices. Furthermore, it is used all around the world by over 14 thousand labs.
LabWise
LabWise from Xybion, is a LIMS intended for medical labs. Sample tracking, equipment managing, and workflow processing are some examples of LabWise features. It is a configurable SaaS, also available for Windows.
LigoLab
LigoLab LIS & RCM Operating Platform is a comprehensive system that empowers labs with many advanced features, such as portals for Direct to Consumer (D2C), Clinical Pathology (CP), Molecular Diagnostics (MDx), Anatomic Pathology (AP), and Revenue Cycle Management (RCM). It comes in two versions, on-premise and SaaS.
Lockbox LIMS
Lockbox LIMS by Third Wave Analytics is a user-friendly LIMS dedicated to end-to-end sample tracking, which offers flexible sample storage with functionalities to manage locations. It meets compliance with ISO and CLIA. This web-based LIMS is popular among commercial, manufacturing, biotech, and science labs.
Matrix Gemini LIMS
Matrix Gemini LIMS from Autoscribe Informatics is a powerful system with great configuration options. It focuses on labs that deal with enormous volumes of data. Available for deployment on-premises in addition to cloud-based.
Orchard Harvest
Orchard Harvest is a LIMS leader with plenty of solutions to improve efficiency. It is helpful to handle data analytics, streamlining, and operational support in a clear SaaS interface. Orchard Harvest proved its efficiency in reducing errors and improving integration.
Polytech LIS
Polytech LIS is a medical LIS that runs on cloud-based and on-premises. It assists labs in managing patients’ data and records. Any lab size can use Polytech LIS; its features will fit them all. It has data automating, reporting, instrument interface, etc.
Conclusion and final thoughts
To sum up, Laboratory Information Management Systems are great tools to support the whole cycle of lab functions. They have come a long way, from a fundamental tool to a very advanced solution. Now, LIMS software are more flexible, offering plenty of automation features. They reinforce lab services from testing, data collecting, etc.
Nowadays, in the era of digital transformation, labs must implement a LIM system. Nevertheless, it is recommended for this important step to try different solutions before taking a decision on which system fits your needs.