User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4

Today, many laboratorians and laboratory informatics vendors use “LIMS” and “LIS” interchangeably. Historically, however, the term "LIMS" has tended to be used to reference informatics systems targeted for environmental, research, or commercial analysis such as pharmaceutical or petrochemical work. "LIS" has tended to be used to reference laboratory informatics systems in the forensics and clinical markets, which often require special case management tools.

While the distinction between the two has faded in the last decade, a few fundamental differences remain. The LIS is largely designed to:

• Process and report specimens from patients in clinical settings.
• Handle the reporting and auditing requirements of accrediting and regulating agencies.
• Manage sensitive patient and clinical trial participant data.

The LIMS, on the other hand, is typically designed to process and report samples and sample batches from non-human sources while conforming to sampling, testing and manufacturing standards.

However, some LIMSs have evolved and broadened their service scope to address the needs of clinical diagnostic and research laboratories. The end result: more LIMS are filling the needs of labs where a LIS was traditionally used. The clinical lab seeking a laboratory informatics solution will therefore want to consider the features and functionality of a system regardless of its moniker.