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Laboratory Information Management Systems
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LIMS - Laboratory Information Management Systems for Genetic
Research
Laboratories that deal with Biological Tissue Samples for Genetic
Research can be categorized in the following ways :
The sample is linked to the demographics of the patient and their
families so that the end analysis can be linked to the demographic
information. This is a key requirement for both - searching for
a subset of samples and linking the analysis to a demographic group.
Our web based software systems address all these areas. The researchers
can interact with the lab managers and technicians for sending samples,
requesting services and receiving analysis.
LIMS - The Tissue Procurement Activity
In a hospital oriented research organization, patients are located
throughout the facility. Tissue Samples are derived as a result
of a specific request and permission from these patients or as an
offshoot of surgical procedures.
The researcher can either request the facility to procure certain
tissues and when procured, the facility staff can inform the researcher
that the tissue is procured. Additionally, the researcher can inform
where the tissue is to be procured from, how it should be collected,
in what aliquots it should be finally stored, where it should be
sent and what analysis should be done on the sample.
The Tissues aliquots are bar coded for storage and tracking.
Typically, the tissues collected, partially processed and is either
stored or sent to another lab for processing and analysis.
LIMS - Tissue Processing and Storage Facility
This application manages a laboratory that receives biological samples
from researchers or other tissue procurement facilities and stores
them after stabilizing them. The quality of the basic tissue sample
is assured at this stage, due to appropriate handling, correct storage
and record keeping.
The processed and stored tissue samples in this laboratory forms
the basic inventory of genetic samples for a particular research
protocol.
The demographics of the person, from whom the tissue sample was
procured, is also recorded and maintained in a database. The final
analysis of the Gene Sequence can be referenced
back to the person from whom the sample was procured.
The samples are processed, bar coded and stored as Plasma,
Parafin Embedded Tissue, OCT Embedded Tissue, or as Frozen Tissue.
On request, such laboratories process the samples and deliver the
DNA, RNA, Raw DNA, EBV Cells, Cut Sections, OCT Embedded
Tissue, etc. to the researcher ( or laboratory ) for use
in the final analysis of the samples.
LIMS - The End Analysis Facility
The researcher will select samples from the inventory of stored
Tissue Samples forming a part of the Genetic Core related to a Clinical
Research Trials Protocol. The Tissue Samples are sent along with
the demographic information so that the last stage of the analysis
will also reference the same information. The selected samples are
forwarded to laboratories that perform the following analysis:
- Gene Expression / Micro Array Analysis using Affymetrix
machines and processes.
- Molecular Pathology Covering
- In-situ Hybridization
- Immuno-Histochemistry
- Histology
The above mentioned processes involve a researcher asking for certain
analysis (also referred to as protocols) and the laboratory staff
carrying out the analysis and delivering the results to the researcher.
The results are delivered by uploading to the central servers for
remote access by the researcher. Billing to the researchers is also
indicated by the software.
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