P4 & M4 - Uses Of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

http://www.uptodata.com/website/resources/images/Screenshots/SampleManager/31_02_lims_samplemanager.png

Picture 3

Necessary record maintenance is good for scientific data analysis; publication, teamwork and other investigate performance. Scientific data can help to interact with members of investigate team and colleagues, rough or correct investigate plans, suggestion for proposals. When it's the time for publish or presenting an investigation, user needs to be able to find the data that support conclusions and analysis.

There are many advantages that come with setting up and using a LIMS system such as:

* The space need to store the computer based storage is a lot less compared to the paper storage.

* Computers can search and find what you looking for quickly.

* There is much less risk of fire damage.

* Depending on the setup it can be accessed on multiple computers by multiple users. This stops the need for finding and photocopying the paperwork.

* Records can be updated quickly and without risk that technicians will have out of date copies.

Although many off the advantages outweigh the disadvantages you will always need to consider these in an important and confidential industry. These are:

* Many LIMS require expensive servers to be setup.

* The computers can start the fire and will have complete data loss if not backed-up offsite.

* A network setup is expensive if the company does not already have it. There also needs to be somebody trained in security so that no hackers or unauthorised members of staff can access the data.

* If not backed up then data loss can and will happen.

* Server needs a decent network and cooling to last and run correctly.

The depending on the LIMS system certain ones require to use own server on a domain. Others use the cloud and others require an offsite back-up. If it is based in the cloud it can be rather cost effective and you only have to pay a fee per staff member needing access to the LIMS system. The disadvantage to using the cloud is if your business has an internet outage it could temporally damage a day’s business or more. A domain setup uses onsite servers and allows users to access this centralized point this could initially cost more than cloud but work out cheaper in the long run. The disadvantage to this is if there was a fire or hardware failure it could mean you lose all your data. The other setup is using a the centralized server and domain but having a offsite aka. Cloud based backup meaning that it allows the hardware to fail but be restored at a later data meaning no data loss.

Task 2

Type Of Data

Reason needed for keeping data

What members of staff should be able to edit, see and record it.

COSHH

records

This will ensure awareness of health and safety issues with substances being used in the

Organisation.

Stores technicians and whoever is involved in ordering, storing and use of the substances.

Scientific data

In a scientific workplace it is vital and necessary to be able to safely store (meaning people inside and out of company don’t get hold off information they shouldn’t know)and then retrieve scientific data generated by that workplace and also data from other sources (scientific literature, for example).

Heads of department, deputies, and those working in the laboratories.

Scientific apparatus

Data such as date of purchase (for warranty and sell by dates), maintenance data (when a product was repaired of tested and the results of such test) and schedules for maintenance.

Heads of department, deputies and those involved in the schedules.

Waste disposal

To show what and how much waste is produced and how it is disposed of. This can be used for health and safety reasons so that there aware were the staff are putting it making sure it can’t fall into the wrong hands or damaging the environment.

Stores technicians and those involved in disposal; heads of department may need to authorise costs of disposal.

Health & safety checks

To show that health and safety is being monitored and to hold accident reports if necessary. This protects the company so no false allegations can be made and if they are proof can be found to prove innocence.

Heads of department, health and safety officers and possibly others who have special responsibility.

Training records

To know the level of training or qualification of members of staff, and to keep and maintain a record of training required and completed by staff. This allows outside members to check to see the level that employers are trained as well as allowing employees to check for them self’s.

Training officer, heads of department, supervisors, human resource department and individual members of staff.

Quality assurance

To be able to show that quality procedures are being carried out (for audit purposes). This protects the company so no false allegations can be made and if they are proof can be found to prove it meet the standard.

Head of department, quality officers and those with special responsibility.

Report records

Reports following tests for GPs or hospital records, or for use in developing new medicines, etc. This also allows you to search for past similar symptoms and treatment.

Office support personnel will usually be responsible for recording results, with access needed by clinical staff (in a clinical environment); report records in this setting wouldn’t usually be subject to change by anyone.

Security

Different types of laboratory might need different levels of security depending on the work being carried out. This could be used on a network (sub-netting) or user based system.

Head of department, security staff, health and safety officer and all staff

Bibliography

Item

Source

Date Accessed

Picture 1

http://www.lims-software.com/images/1/16/WinLIMS.ASP-from-QSI.jpg

9/1/2015

Picture 2

http://www.labsoftlims.com/features/tools/

9/1/2015

Picture 3

http://www.uptodata.com/website/resources/images/Screenshots/SampleManager/31_02_lims_samplemanager.png

9/1/2015

Information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory_information_management_system

13/1/2015

Information

https://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/Secondary/Science/BTECAppliedScience/BTECLevel3NationalAppliedScience/Samples/StudentBook/BTECLevel3NationalAppliedScienceStudentBookUnit2.pdf

13/1/2015

Information

http://www.lincolncastleacademy.co.uk/lca/documents/btec/

14/1/2015

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