Biobanking Archives - INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE

Unlocking Efficiency: The Features and Benefits of Achiever LIMS 5.7

Sharon Williams — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:14:42 +0000

In today’s fast-paced laboratory environments, efficiency, compliance, and data integrity are paramount. Achiever LIMS 5.7, the latest iteration of Interactive Software’s Laboratory Information Management System, is designed to meet these demands with advanced tools and features. Achiever LIMS is designed to enhance laboratory operations across various sectors, including clinical research, biobanking, agriculture, and environmental studies. Whether you’re managing clinical trials, forensic data, or sample workflows in diagnostic labs, this release promises to streamline operations, improve user experience, and ensure adherence to best practices and regulatory standards. Laboratory Execution System (LES) Enhancements The updated LES offers Achiever LIMS customers with an improved interface, simplifying the design and implementation of laboratory processes. Users can select predefined action and event types within default settings, facilitating the linking and unlinking of actions and events. New features such as loops, variables, and prompts reduce the need for custom code, enhance configuration simplicity, and improve version control with commit and rollback capabilities. These enhancements support various laboratory workflows, including clinical trial setup, donor enrolment, kit creation and quality control, sample analysis, and sample dispatch. Email Management Achiever LIMS 5.7 integrated email management system now allows users to oversee the sending and monitoring of emails directly within […]

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Cyber Defence in the Lab: IT’s Crucial Role in LIMS Security

Sharon Williams — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:37:21 +0000

In an era where data breaches and cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, organisations must prioritise cybersecurity across all departments. One often-overlooked ally in this endeavour is the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). IT professionals can leverage a robust LIMS to bolster their cybersecurity strategies, ensuring that sensitive data is protected, and compliance standards are met. Training and Awareness The first step towards robust cybersecurity is cultivating awareness of potential cyber threats among all staff, not just IT personnel. This includes training on recognising phishing attempts, ensuring employees understand the importance of password security, and knowing how to respond to suspicious activity. Utilising resources from organisations like NHS Digital and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) can aid in educating employees about emerging threats and best practices. Centralised Data Management A LIMS centralises data from various sources, creating a unified repository for sensitive laboratory information. By consolidating data, IT professionals can better control access, monitor user activity, and implement stringent security measures. Centralised data management simplifies the identification of potential vulnerabilities and streamlines incident response. Cybersecurity is not just about preventing breaches; it’s also about maintaining data integrity. A LIMS supports data validation processes, ensuring that data entered into the system […]

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Cybersecurity and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS): A Critical Intersection for Lab Managers

Sharon Williams — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:28:17 +0000

In today’s digital landscape, protecting sensitive data—especially in laboratories handling valuable samples—is paramount. This responsibility goes beyond practical implications; there are significant ethical considerations and financial motivations for safeguarding laboratory data and systems, whether in clinical, food, agricultural, or environmental contexts. Fundamentally, cybersecurity is about defending digital systems, networks, programs, and data from unauthorised access and cyberattacks, which can result in the exposure of confidential records and the loss or corruption of sensitive information. The Role of LIMS in Cybersecurity Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) play a crucial role in bolstering cybersecurity in a laboratory setting. These systems are designed to manage samples, associated data, and laboratory workflows, providing a comprehensive framework for secure data handling. To strengthen cybersecurity, laboratory managers and IT professionals must harness the capabilities of LIMS alongside best practices and tools. Training and Awareness Awareness is the first step towards enhanced cybersecurity. Cyber threats can affect anyone with access to organisational systems, including LIMS users. Therefore, training should extend beyond the IT department to encompass all staff members. Regular training sessions, supplemented with resources from reputable sites like NHS Digital and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), can equip teams with the knowledge needed to recognise […]

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Why Searching Matters – How Achiever Medical LIMS Does It

Ann-Marie Lee — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 16:58:26 +0000

No way to search using the information you have available? Constrained by search logic or unsure what the logic is? Have to search again to find related records? Not only are the above annoying and time consuming, but risk duplication with the wrong records being updated, misreporting, loss of data integrity and an admin overhead. Achiever Medical LIMS provides a flexible and reliable search mechanism, designed to avoid the above. Standard search grids and tickers provide pre-filtered, focussed starting points Search bars give you control over the search logic and conditions available Default search values and standardised search lists, avoid unnecessary typing and ensure you use the values that were used on data entry Display columns with filters provide additional layers of searching A key word search can be enabled A Query builder where bespoke queries can be built, including the ability to search for null values Achiever Medical LIMS supervisors can be shown how to evolve the searching provided, to match business processes Fundamental record result grids display a preview, where you access commonly used functions Results grids contain links to open the record being looked for, alongside links to related records Records themselves have drill-thrus and further search […]

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The Value of Audit Trails in a Biobank

Gary Rooksby — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 10:00:35 +0000

With biobanks, their raison d’être is to help researchers to make scientific breakthroughs using their tissue samples and the associated data. The value of the tissue samples to researchers, however, depends entirely on their profile, condition and the supporting evidence. In other words, the data. And lots of that data is built over time in the form of audit trails. So, if you have a biobank, its effectiveness and value to an extent, depends on audit trails. Think about compliance and external auditors Data is required to evidence legislative compliance such as HTA and MHRA. Using a system that automatically maintains an audit trail of data changes can also evidence compliance with your Standard Operating Practices (SOPs). What’s more if that system is fully automated then it saves a lot of time. External auditors especially love that level of data being provided automatically. They will carry out spot-checks to confirm to themselves that the audit trails are complete and effective. This gives them confidence wherever else you’re producing those audit trails. It saves a lot of time during such audits and having happy auditors can make your lab staff much more relaxed and so the external audit becomes less stressful. […]

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Patient Consent is More Than Yes and No

Sharon Williams — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:12:50 +0000

With increasing volumes of data being held about each of us it’s no wonder the analogy ‘data is the new oil’ has become popular. Organisations are constantly trying to harness information about our hobbies, interests and purchasing history to entice us to buy their latest products and gadgets. They probably know more about us than we do ourselves. But are we happy about them knowing and using our data? Shouldn’t we have more of a say in how they use our information? Now imagine if they actually had a piece of your body. This is exactly what patients give researchers and scientists when they donate tissue samples. That’s why when it comes to managing patient consent it isn’t as simple as yes or no. The patient consent journey There are numerous reasons why patients donate their tissue. It might be as part of their own personalised treatment. Or it could be that they want to be part of a trial to help others. Whatever the reasons and drivers behind it, patients want to know their donated samples are going to make a difference. But for many there may be a reluctance to donate samples. This could be due to past […]

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5 Ways to Help Boost Productivity in the Lab

Sharon Williams — Mon, 24 May 2021 13:52:29 +0000

Growing pressure is being placed on labs to increase sample throughput, deliver rapid, accurate results, and adhere to tighter quality control and regulatory compliance measures. You might be thinking about how you can boost productivity in your lab in order to meet demand and scale-up your lab operations. You could bring in additional storage capacity, instruments, resources, or increase lab space to help. However, simply increasing these doesn’t always have the desired results, especially if you don’t have the supporting processes and systems in place. If you’re considering how to make the most of existing or new resources take a look at our 5 ways to help boost productivity in the lab. 1. Go digital New challenges emerge when data and user volumes increase, and processes become more sophisticated. These can include: multiple users accessing and updating data at the same time, users requiring access to data across multiple locations, making sure everyone is following standard operating procedures (SOPs), security to only allow authorised users to access data, auditing for traceability and reproducibility, and importantly, compliance with regulatory requirements. Your spreadsheets or legacy systems may not be able to handle your evolving needs as your operations and data volumes expand. Instead, […]

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Tired of Playing Sample Roulette? 5 Reasons Why Using Spreadsheets to Manage Sample Storage Costs More Than You Think

Sharon Williams — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 10:18:42 +0000

‘And when she got there the cupboard was bare!’* A line from a children’s nursery rhyme that may sound very familiar when it comes to looking for samples in your lab. Your spreadsheet or hand drawn diagram tells you that the sample you want is in Freezer A. When you open the freezer, the space where the sample’s supposed to be is empty. But there’s something that looks quite similar next to it. Could it be? If only its handwritten label wasn’t faded. Using spreadsheets or paper-based systems to manage your freezer and sample storage is a quick and easy option. But it can end up costing you much more than your precious lab time. Here’s 5 reasons why you may want to rethink your sample storage management systems and processes. 1. Wasting hours hunting for samples Your lab time is precious, so you want to use it as productively as possible. You don’t want to be spending the bulk of your time traipsing from freezer to freezer, sending copious emails and calling round trying to find samples. Spreadsheets and hand drawn diagrams that track samples quickly become out of date. This is because they’re updated sporadically, more often that […]

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Are you Biobanking or Bio-hoarding?

Gary Rooksby — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:03:39 +0000

I was watching an excellent presentation by Prof Daniel Catchpool, the current president of ISBER, at the Europe Biobank Week 2020, and he raised this specific question in a very insightful way. Anyone who manages a biobank has a multitude of constant considerations to juggle. These can relate to consent management, ethics, legislation, resource constraints and balancing budgets. It’s not often you can pause to think about the fundamentals of what you are doing. To realign your daily work to the principles on which your biobank was founded. Are enough of your samples being released to researchers or are they just sitting in your freezers? Is it time to step back and ask yourself if you’re biobanking or bio-hoarding? What is biobanking for? This sounds like such an obvious question but it’s so important to pause to consider it whenever you get the chance. You are involved at the leading edge of medical research with the aim of improving outcomes for patients. Helping to improve lives and save lives. That’s a pretty sobering thought. You are a key link in a resource chain that connects generous donors with researchers, with the aim of furthering medical science. And there are two […]

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5 Reasons Why Data Quality Matters in the Lab

Sharon Williams — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 15:11:21 +0000

Many laboratories invest in and use state of the art equipment to process and analyse samples. These highly sophisticated pieces of kit can efficiently handle large volumes of samples. They can complete very intricate – as well as repetitive – processes, saving you valuable time. Plus, their accuracy can help improve quality in your lab operations. What’s more, they can carry out tasks that you just couldn’t do manually. Although they’re expensive you can easily see their worth. But, ultimately, the most important thing they deliver is information. So, why would you risk impacting the quality of that information by manually re-entering it into a spreadsheet or legacy database? When assessing lab data quality it’s not just about its accuracy but also its integrity, completeness, auditability, formatting, consistency and standardisation. Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) or off-the-shelf Sample Management software can help you manage and improve the quality of your data. But investing in these systems is often given a lower priority than other lab equipment. Here’s 5 reasons why data quality matters in the lab and why you may want to consider a system to support your data management activities. 1. Making sure you use those valuable samples You […]

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