Medical Science

P4
LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System)
The LIMS system allows laboratories and other industries, to insert information in the electronic format that is required in order for it to function for it to function and generate the working system. This allows other users and participants to insert relevant data in mandatory fields, this could be things such as name, date of birth, ethnicity, medical history etc. this is placed in the system for organisation.

LIMS is also known to be an electronic filing cabinet, data input done according to the given organisation. It can also store graphical data such as photos, CT scans of patients in their medical history; also text an example of this is hospital patients, regarding their identity photo and medical history.

This image shows an example of patients DNA testing samples, this can be used in hospitals for patients. Another example is that samples from patients can be taken, a pathology form is raised by the clinician under the patient records. These are then barcoded to keep each and every ones records individual.
The LIMS system can use data to produce relevant information such as investigation results. This can vary from different organisation. “DNA analysis is one of the main tools used in forensic science to identify individuals. Crime laboratories undertaking DNA typing are typically concerned with comparing DNA evidence with known standards. The evidence is DNA samples collected from a crime scene and these are cross-matched against DNA swabs taken from anyone connected to that scene, be that victims, defendants or elimination ‘knowns’. The elimination known can come from the victims’ relatives, for example, or, if it’s a shared house, from tenants. The comparisons are made, not only to generate and compile evidence against suspects, but also to exclude people from the investigation.”
It is also used to monitor good laboratory practice by monitoring sample collection of tests, testing, and quality assurance. ‘Good laboratory practice or GLP specifically refers to a quality system of management controls for research laboratories and organizations to try to ensure the uniformity, consistency, reliability, reproducibility, quality, and integrity of chemical (including pharmaceuticals) non-clinical safety tests; from physio-chemical properties through acute to chronic toxicity tests.’
The LIMS system is easy and time efficient because it can automatically alert the system this can be for anything such as the next dentist appointment that is due for a patient or oncoming samples, this is a great advantage because they then can be bar coded. This allows systems and procedures to run through much quicker without any errors occurring.

LIMS can also be used to monitor stock levels

Reference & Bibliography http://www.scientific-computing.com/features/feature.php?feature_id=225 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_laboratory_practice

Bibliography: http://www.scientific-computing.com/features/feature.php?feature_id=225 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_laboratory_practice