Opinions expressed by CSols Inc. contributors are their own. Over the past 20+ years, I have implemented numerous laboratory information management systems (LIMS) from multiple vendors, always as a customer. One of the earliest lessons I learned is that return on investment (ROI) is NOT a benefit of a LIMS. I start with this because… Read More

The early part of February has conditioned us all to celebrate finding our perfect match. But if you haven’t found a match, this time of year can be hard. If you’re reading this, we’re going to assume that you’re here looking for your laboratory informatics match. In today’s world, we have many options for finding… Read More

The human construct of time provides us with a frame of reference for discussing a sequence of events. It helps our consciousness make sense of the physical world around us. In some schools of thought, the future doesn’t exist. As scientists, engineers, and laboratory informatics professionals, however, it’s your job to plan for the future,… Read More

People have been asking, “What is a LIMS?,” practically since LIMS was invented. (We’ve asked it ourselves!) In 1998, Dr. Alan McLelland of the Institute of Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, penned his famous—at least in informatics circles—essay offering four viewpoints on this question; those of the analytical staff, the laboratory manager, the IT group, and… Read More

Imagine…historic rainfalls flood your production facility and its lab, while knocking out power for miles around. Your analytical equipment is ruined. Your server is under water. Or, wildfires ignite suddenly after a lightning strike or car accident. The fires spread rapidly. Lab personnel have just enough time to escape with what they can carry. Your… Read More