Custom Software for the Genomics Industry
Liquid Handler Robots: Key Integration Factors to Consider Integrating a liquid handling robot (LHR) with a laboratory information management system (LIMS) takes a collaborative effort between the lab, the LHR management software vendor, and the integration consultant. In our last post, we talked about some of the problems that can occur when labs use automated LHRs, and three integration patterns […]
How to Mitigate Three Common Liquid Handler Robot Problems Liquid handling robots (LHRs) are commonly used by labs working at scale. Because they reduce the need for manual processing, they can be hugely beneficial or even essential for labs with high throughput. However, LHRs also bring the potential for catastrophic errors. If lab staff walk away from the equipment — […]
If you’re building custom lab software or a new integration, the first thing you need to do is gather a list of requirements. In our work with clinical NGS labs, we start every engagement with an assessment of the current state and gap analysis. It’s our role to help lab staff translate their knowledge of the lab and its processes […]
Barcoding is extremely useful in a lab environment. It lets you quickly and automatically identify and track items like samples, plates, and reagents. But implementing a lab barcode system is not as simple as charging up a scanner and getting to work. To be effective, the scanning solution should be integrated with your laboratory information management system (LIMS). That means […]
For low-throughput labs, manual processing might be the simplest and best way to operate. But for high-throughput labs, automation is the key tool needed to boost speed and efficiency. Every process you currently perform manually is an opportunity for incremental improvement. So, it makes sense to automate as many processes as possible once your monthly throughput exceeds a certain threshold. […]
Labs that perform sequencing in support of scientific research or clinical trials generally receive their samples in a batch of tens or hundreds of samples accompanied by a sample manifest. The manifest, usually a CSV or Excel file, provides the lab with the sample metadata required to successfully process samples and report results. What makes this a challenge is that […]