Diagnostic testing labs need low-code LIMS

The role of diagnostic testing labs in the modern healthcare system is growing. They help patients access convenient, affordable care sooner by providing a wide range of tests and services essential for diagnosing and treating diseases.

Diagnostic labs face unique automation challenges because they test a wider variety of specimens and methods than most other labs. When labs add new test capabilities, they must consider forcing new methods into an existing LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) or assembling a patchwork of automation tools to support a new workflow. Because many tests require different instruments, data validation, and unique reports, labs commonly enlist a strategy fraught with peril – using a combination of spreadsheets, instrument-specific LIMS, and manual processes to collect, track and report results.

LIMS started as a way for instrument manufacturers to offer proprietary automation

Instrument manufacturers created the first LIMS systems in the late 1970s. These early systems helped laboratories manage the data generated by their instruments.?

As the healthcare industry grew and the demand for laboratory testing increased, the need for more sophisticated LIMS systems became apparent. In the 1980s, several independent software vendors began to develop LIMS systems. These systems offered a more comprehensive range of features and functionality than the systems produced by instrument manufacturers.

In the 1990s, laboratories' adoption of LIMS systems increased due to several factors, including the increasing complexity of laboratory testing, the need for compliance with regulations, and the desire to improve efficiency and productivity.

While instrument manufacturers did create the first LIMS systems, they are no longer the only ones who develop and sell these systems. A wide range of independent software vendors now offer LIMS solutions, and many features and functionality are available. These off-the-shelf LIMS worked for a while, but the pace of change is overwhelming.

The next generation of LIMS is Low-Code.

LIMS systems have been around for decades, and they have helped laboratories to automate and streamline their workflows. However, the pace of change in the laboratory industry is accelerating, and traditional LIMS are struggling.

• Speed of change. The laboratory industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies always emerging. Traditional LIMS are not agile and can be slow and painful to adapt to change. Low-code LIMS, on the other hand, are designed to be flexible and scalable, making them more adaptable to change.
• Technology unknowns. The laboratory industry faces many technological unknowns, such as the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Traditional LIMS don’t readily support these new technologies, while low-code LIMS can easily accommodate new technologies as they emerge.
• Need to adapt – the COVID effect. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced laboratories to adjust their workflows in many ways. Overnight, testing was either eliminated or re-directed to the home. Labs discovered that LIMS couldn’t track sample collection kits directly to consumers or have HIPAA-compliant methods to offer self-serve patient test orders. Necessary integrations take too much time and cost too much money.
• All laboratories are different. They all have unique approaches. Traditional LIMS don’t align with lab processes, while low-code LIMS are purpose-built to meet the needs of each laboratory.
• Labs are consolidating. As a result, laboratories are merging and acquiring each other, making it difficult to keep track of data across multiple systems. Low-code LIMS can be easily integrated with other systems, making managing data across multiple laboratories easier.
• Compliance is patchwork. The laboratory industry is subject to a variety of regulations, and these regulations are constantly changing. Low-code LIMS meets the specific compliance requirements of each laboratory.

The natural extension of LIMS is made possible by low-code

Labs operate as a system. Every facet of the operation aims for an exceptional experience and elevated patient outcomes. Functioning as a system requires an integrated approach to the data associated with lab operations, including:

• Instrument monitoring to track the status of instruments, such as their uptime, downtime, and error rates, for early identification of potential problems.
• Inventory controls to ensure that the laboratory has the necessary supplies on hand and to prevent stockouts.
• AI-infused workflows can automate tasks like data analysis and quality control, freeing laboratory staff to focus on more complex tasks.
• Data analytics, which enables better decision-making about patient care.
• Unique reporting and notifications to generate special reports and notifications tailored to each laboratory's specific needs.
• Integration with new technologies, such as AI and wearables, that gather relevant patient data.

The low-code difference

Off-the-shelf products hit a wall in the face of dramatic change. New test methodologies, instruments, and artificial intelligence will challenge labs to stay the course of efficiency, data safety, compliance, and stakeholder experience. Slingr Low-Code LIMS uniquely address today’s challenges with the flexibility to adapt to tomorrow’s opportunities:

• Automating data validation: Low-code platforms can automate data validation from different instruments to ensure that data is accurate and reliable.
• Generating role-specific reports: Low-code platforms can create reports automatically based on test results for patients, physicians, and practitioners to help make lab results clear.
• Tracking the status of samples: Low-code platforms can track the status of samples throughout the testing process, helping labs process samples on time.
• Infusing lab workflows with new AI technologies as they emerge: Low-code platforms can integrate new AI technologies into lab workflows, helping labs stay ahead of the curve.

The versatile lab uses Slingr Low-Code LIMS.

Low-code LIMS are flexible and can be customized to meet changing needs, including regulatory and compliance. Because low-code LIMS can be enhanced with new features, implementing a cohesive compliance program specific to genetic lab operations is fast and affordable.

Slingr low-code LIMS are cloud-native and offer compliance at every layer, including data back-ups, platform-level audit, and logging, and fine-grained permissions to restrict data sharing to necessary parties.