Difference between revisions of "User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4"

From LIMSWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
(Replaced content with "<div class="nonumtoc">__TOC__</div> {{ombox | type = notice | style = width: 960px; | text = This is sublevel4 of my sandbox, where I play with features and...")
Tags: Manual revert Replaced
Line 7: Line 7:


==Sandbox begins below==
==Sandbox begins below==
[[File:Emil Christian Hansen in the lab by Frederik Riise.jpg|right|Emil Christian Hansen (1842-1909), Danish microbiologist and mycologist]]This buyer's guide is based off the [[LIMS Buyer's Guide]], a former publication of the [[LabLynx, Inc.#Community history|Laboratory Informatics Institute]] (LII), an open trade association associated with [[LabLynx, Inc.]]<ref name="LII">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc |date=17 July 2006 |accessdate=06 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="LBGOrig">{{cite web |url=http://limsbook.com/ |title=The LIMSbook ...everything about LIMS |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc |accessdate=06 September 2013}}</ref> In late 2013, the LII and LabLynx discontinued publishing a copyrighted version and chose to release future guides to the public domain via this wiki. Per the [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Creative Commons license] and the [[LIMSWiki:Copyrights|copyright terms of this site]], you are free to copy, adapt, distribute, and transmit this guide as long as you 1. give proper attribution and 2. distribute the work only under the same or a similar license.
==About this guide==
What exactly is a [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) or [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) anyway? Do I need one? What options are available and how do I compare them? What about a request for information (RFI), request for proposal (RFP), or request for quotation (RFQ)? These are questions [[laboratory]] professionals typically ponder upon finding themselves charged with the mission of finding software for their lab. It can be a daunting
proposition, and there doesn't seem to be any objective reference to help with it all. This guide hopes to change that.
For this free public domain version of the guide, we've added more vendors, updated new information, and added links to video demonstrations of their systems, with the goal of providing the accurate information you need to make decisions for your lab. This guide also strives to be different from any buyer's guide that has ever come before by including pricing. For the first time you have real information as well as pricing so you can quickly pursue only the vendors and products that make sense for you and your lab. While in the past vendors have refrained from providing public pricing, the trend is arguably changing towards a more open information process, though not without its own set of caveats.<ref name="OOaLOpen">{{cite web |url=http://outonalims.com/2011/08/15/understanding-openness-and-other-marketing-tactics-in-laboratory-informatics-and-other-industries/ |title=Understanding Openness and Other Marketing Tactics in Laboratory Informatics and Other Industries |author=Metrick, Gloria |publisher=GeoMetrick Enterprises |date=15 August 2011 |accessdate=06 September 2013}}</ref> In theory, that means prices should decrease as LIMS become commodities that labs can compare and contrast in a more competitive fashion.
At the core all labs are in the business of producing reports, data... essentially [[information]].<ref name="IFlowJourn">{{cite journal |journal=Administrative Science Quarterly |year=1969 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=12–19 |title=Information Flow in Research and Development Laboratories |author=Allen, Thomas J.; Cohen, Stephen I. |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/2391357 |accessdate=06 September 2013}}</ref> Everything else is just a means to that central goal. So in a very real sense, information management is the core of any lab. In a world where we use the latest technology for most of our daily tasks and pleasures, why do so many labs still rely on hand-written notes and spreadsheets? Spend thousands of dollars on a sophisticated analytical instrument yet hesitate when faced with purchasing an information management system? Why? The primary reason is price priorities.
Since LIMS are increasingly becoming commodities, driving down prices, potential buyers don't need to make the tough decision of one or the other anymore. As technology has improved, smaller LIMS companies have emerged, along with affordable [[software as a service|SaaS]] online subscription models that are trustworthy. This means any lab can put their resources where they belong: in information and its management.
===Notes about the content===
The LIMS Buyers Guide is here to help you wade through the mire. Use the information and vendor profiles to get a feel for what's out there and what makes the most sense. This guide contains information on everything from "what is a LIMS?" to maintaining and supporting your system. Additionally, whether you call it a LIMS, LIS, or even a LMS, in the end it's simply a tool to better manage your lab's data. This guide will refer to it all as “LIMS” for the sake of simplicity and consistency, though this guide may include systems officially dubbed as a LIS or [[Electronic laboratory notebook|ELN]]. ''Finally, a primary criterion for inclusion in this guide is publicly available pricing information that can thusly be cited.'' If citeable public pricing is not available, the vendor will not be listed in this guide. Any inappropriate additions will be removed.
==How do I find the right LIMS, and how much will it cost?==
''To hide the contents of this section for easier reading of other sections, click the "Collapse" link to the right.''
<div class="mw-collapsible" style="width:100%; background-color:white;">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
OK, LIMS are getting more affordable, but where do you start? You may know the needs of your lab and how it runs, but perhaps you don't know LIMS and are intimidated by all the options. Take heart! This guide features a compiled list of major and minor players to help you make initial comparisons. However, you'll first need to gauge your lab's informatics needs in order to determine which products are worth investigating further. Of course your lab's [[LIMS feature#Data and trend analysis|analysis requirements]], [[LIMS feature#Reporting, barcoding, and printing|reporting]] and data sharing constraints, [[LIMS feature#Instrument interfacing and management|instrument interfacing]], [[LIMS feature#Barcode support|barcoding needs]], [[LIMS feature#QA/QC functions|quality assurance]] processes, etc. are very important factors. But LIMS vary in numerous ways, and other important factors exist. Price should certainly be considered, although value is ultimately more important than a low price. Other important considerations:
* Should we purchase licenses or "rent" them via subscription?
* Does the software need to be on-site, or is a [[Software as a service|SaaS]] hosted option more practical?
* Is a modular or complete system better for us?
* What is the best licensing/rental scheme for us? Show we consider site, named user, concurrent user, or workstation licenses?
* Is the company qualified and trustworthy?
===Purchase vs. subscribe===
In the past this was not an option. But much like the recent trend toward leasing cars rather than finding a large amount of money for up-front purchasing, labs can choose to pay only the cost of services (setup, training, report configuration, instrument interfaces, data migration, custom functions, etc.) and get started on a monthly subscription rather than buy licenses outright. When does this make sense? Subscriptions make sense primarily:
* ...if a large lump sum is hard to get budgeted. If your business cash flow will support the regular subscription fee but finding license fees is more problematic, then a subscription may be right for you. But do the math. Calculate project costs over a reasonable period (e.g. five years) to make sure it is a value proposition. Be sure to include maintenance and support in your figures; this is often included in a subscription but not in a license.
* ...if you may need to reduce the number of users. Once you buy licenses, they are yours. You can't "un-buy" them. But with a subscription you can raise and lower the number of users, workstations, etc. as you need to.
* ...if you may need to bail. Business decisions often need to be dynamic. Your lab may decide to go into another area of analysis, and if your LIMS isn't versatile enough to support the change, you have potentially wasted a lot of money.
On the other hand, it may be important to you to have the LIMS source code. Some subscriptions allow you just as much access to it as if you had purchased licenses, while others may not give you the access you seek. Confirm this with the vendor. Alos, ask whether you get to keep an image of the database should you decide to end your subscription.
===Onsite vs. SaaS===
A small but growing number of LIMS vendors will actually host your system on their servers for you or cloud-host it elsewhere. We refer to software accessed via the Internet rather than your workstation or server as [[software as a service]] or SaaS. Most of us already make copious use of SaaS whenever we "Google" something. Cloudhosted SaaS is characterized by multiple load-balanced servers that allow resources to be strategically used, and virtualized servers that allow for the creation of custom environments.To decide if SaaS is for you or if you should go the traditional route, here are some points to consider:
* If you have a small or overworked IT department, or none at all, then it may make sense to let the LIMS provider take care of those functions rather than invest in additional hardware, personnel, and other resources just to support your LIMS. If you are a large company with an extensive and capable IT department, then you may prefer the LIMS and its database to reside on premises.
* IT techs cite security as a major reason to keep a LIMS on lab premises. The truth is, if the vendor uses a SAS-70 or SAS 70 Type II [[data center]] to host, with GxP SOPs, your system and data are probably a lot safer than on a typical business infrastructure. Ask the vendor.
* If you decide to have your system hosted, ensure it's not by Bob and his buddy in their basement. The vendor needs to have been around awhile, have solid references, and feature good customer service.
* A reputable SaaS host will guarantee you high availability, approaching 100% up time, with quick and responsive catastrophe response. Redundant components and infrastructure (power, cooling, etc.) allow them to do that.
===Modular vs. complete===
Some LIMS are offered as a collection of [[LIMS feature#Modular|modules]] for you to select from to constitute your completed system, while others come complete with all the functionality available. Those whose LIMS are modular espouse the benefit of only paying for the functionality you need. Those whose LIMS come as a complete package say labs won't need to pay extra for any add-ons. Who's right? Well, it depends. If buying modules means you need one module for [[LIMS feature#Sample tracking|sample tracking]] and another for data entry, and still another to generate reports, then it may not be long before you run up a sizable bill just to get basic standard functionality, especially if the modules require hourly services to implement. If the modules tend to be industry-specific and complete, then they may make sense. Make sure you compare your needs with the product functionality and identify all costs associated with getting everything you need out of the software.
===Named users vs. concurrent users===
When comparing license fees, understand the difference between named users and concurrent users. If a vendor charges by named users, and your lab will have 30 people who will use the LIMS at any time, you will need 30 licenses. If the vendor charges by concurrent users, then you only need enough licenses to cover the number of users who are likely to be on the system at the same time. Typically in a lab with 30 staff, you might need a maximum of 20 concurrent user licenses. This is reduced even further if you have sites in other parts of the world whose work days differ.
===The company===
As important as the LIMS and its functions are to you, the company is at least as important. Make no mistake: this is a relationship you are entering into. This is not like selecting a piece of furniture. A LIMS is like a living, dynamic entity, and you'll need to interact with the vendor from time to time even with the most trouble-free system. Of course that interaction will be particularly intense in the beginning as they provide installation, provisioning, training, and other set-up services. Take your cue from your initial dealings with them. Just like in any relationship, they will be presenting their best side to you then. If the vendor return calls or emails late or fails to follow through with what they say they'll do, then you can bet it will be much worse once you are their customer. So yes, do the usual: research their years in business, size, staff qualifications, references, etc., but also ask yourself if you would be comfortable doing business with the vendor in the long term.
===The functionality===
And now we come to what probably has weighed most on your mind since you had the first idea you might need a LIMS: functions and features. The functionality of the LIMS is paramount, so it is important you first have an idea of what a LIMS can do, and then you can begin to decide which functions and features you need or want.
====Core functions and features====
You should expect the following functions to be demonstrated in a full-function LIMS:
* [[LIMS feature#Audit trail|audit trail]]
* [[LIMS feature#Barcode support|barcoding]]
* [[LIMS feature#Sample and result batching|batching]]
* [[LIMS feature#Chain of custody|chain of custody]]
* [[LIMS feature#Configurable roles and security|configurable]] [[LIMS feature#Administrator management|setup]]
* [[LIMS feature#Option for manual result entry|data entry]]
* [[LIMS feature#Data warehouse|data warehousing]] and [[LIS feature#Data mining|mining]]
* [[LIMS feature#Document creation and management|document management]]
* [[LIMS feature#External monitoring|electronic]] [[LIMS feature#Import data|data]] [[LIMS feature#Instrument interfacing and management|exchange]]
* [[LIMS feature#Data warehouse|data warehousing]] and [[LIS feature#Data mining|mining]]
* [[LIMS feature#Task and event scheduling|event-driven]] [[LIMS feature#Alarms and/or alerts|actions]]
* [[LIMS feature#Fax integration|fax]] and [[LIMS feature#Email integration|email integration]]
* [[LIMS feature#Test, experiment, and/or trial management|formulas]]
* [[LIMS feature#Instrument interfacing and management|instrument interfacing, calibration, and maintenance]]
* [[LIMS feature#Inventory management|inventory]]
* [[LIS feature#Sample login and management|login and accessioning]]
* multiple location/department support
* [[LIMS feature#Regulatory compliance|regulatory compliance]]
* [[LIMS feature#Custom reporting|reporting]]
* [[LIMS feature#Data validation|review and approval]]
* [[LIMS feature#Sample login and management|sample management]] and [[LIMS feature#Sample tracking|tracking]]
* [[LIMS feature#Task and event scheduling|scheduling]]
* [[LIMS feature#Performance evaluation|training tracking]]
* [[LIMS feature#Data and trend analysis|trending and control charting]]
* [[LIMS feature#Version control|version control]]
* [[LIMS feature#Project and/or task management|workload management]]
* [[LIMS feature#Workflow management|workflow management]]
====Additional useful features====
The following functions aren't necessary for all but useful for many:
* [[LIMS feature#Case management|case management]]
* [[LIMS feature#Customer and supplier management|complaints and corrective actions]]
* [[LIMS feature#Customer and supplier management|customer relationship management]]
* [[LIMS feature#ELN support or integration|electronic laboratory notebook]]
* ERP and accounting interfaces
* [[LIS feature#Billing and revenue management|invoicing]]
* [[LIMS feature#Specification management|product specification management]]
* [[LIMS feature#Project and/or task management|project management]]
* [[LIS feature#Barcode and/or RFID support|RFID]]
* [[LIS feature#Billing and revenue management|quoting]]
* safety tracking and compliance
* supervisory control and data acquisition ([[SCADA]]) interfacing
* stability management
* [[LIMS feature#Web client or portal|web client or portal]]
===How much will it cost?===
OK, now you understand what to look for in a company and its products. What you likely don't yet know: the price tag. Heck, most of us don't even know how LIMS vendors price their products or what is involved, much less how much they actually cost. In truth, there are three vital pricing components for any LIMS:
# licenses
# subscriptions
# services
The software itself never comprises the entire cost. LIMS are complex creatures, and your lab, even if it's small, is fairly complex, too. Let's go over what's involved and how much it's roughly going to cost.
====Licenses====
If the software has a purchased license type (as opposed to rented/subscription), then you will of course have to pay for those. Keep in mind what we said earlier about [[LIMS Buyer's Guide#Named users vs. concurrent users|named vs. concurrent user pricing]]. Other methods include by site, by CPU or server, by workstation, or by unlimited user corporate level licensing. Arguably the lack of standardization in this area has contributed as much as anything to the vagueness that has surrounded LIMS pricing for so long. The linked vendor profiles in the next section feature pricing information for licenses for the included vendors. (Remember: the primary criterion for inclusion is publicly available pricing.) Review and compare, but make sure you factor in pricing method.
====Subscriptions====
These include two possible items:
# rented or SaaS LIMS
# annual maintenance, support, and warranty (MSW)
The cost of LIMS rental is equivalent to the licensed type, but a lump sum up front is not required. These can run anywhere from a couple of hundred
dollars a month for a single user up to maybe $2000 or so for 20+ users. Just like purchased licenses, however, these can be priced by site, concurrent or named users, etc., so make sure you compare like with like or at least factor these considerations in as you shop. And your rental may be annual instead of monthly. In most cases it does include all IT services and maintenance, support, and warranty, including updates, at a specified level.
The second type of subscription cost is annual MSW, and you need to factor that into your budgeting if you are buying LIMS licenses. Typically it is priced at around 15 percent of the license fee and is available at graduated levels. A certain level may be standard for a certain number of licenses (for example, 10 hours of support and additional services available at $200 per hour for a 10-concurrent user LIMS), but you can buy a higher level of support and cheaper
rate for additional services if you want to pay extra. One thing to keep in mind: with an MSW you will certainly need coverage as you go through your first year. If you think you can then drop it, think again. A modern LIMS should be built on technology that can give it a much longer life span than those in years past. That is dependent on staying updated. If you lose that update path, your LIMS will expire prematurely. If you decide later to renew MSW, you may
find yourself liable for the missed years before the vendor will bring you current.
====Services====
Your LIMS is a function of the cost of the LIMS itself plus the services involved in its implementation plus, in the case of a licensed LIMS, annual MSW. Many first-time LIMS buyers neglect to factor in the cost of services when budgeting. As mentioned earlier, any LIMS will require services to get going, and you may want more if there are extras you need or want. Services break down more or less like this:
'''Basic implementation services'''
* kickoff meeting (planning, coordination, communication procedures, etc.)
* ƒtraining
* setup (enter users, configure profiles, departments, tests, screens, etc.)
* create main report(s)
* go live support
'''Additional or optional services'''
* instrument interfaces
* additional reports
* data migration from a previous system
* interfaces to other systems or databases
* special customizations
* web portal configuration
* validation
* standards certification support
You may need other services. Rates for services vary from vendor to vendor, but a good rule of thumb for initial budgeting purposes is to figure service costs to be roughly equal to the licensing cost or to a year's worth of LIMS subscription.
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
==Commercial vendors with public pricing==
{{Commercial vendors with public pricing}}
==Additional resources and help==
===LIMSforum===
Formerly a LinkedIn-associated group, [http://www.limsforum.com LIMSforum] is a web portal for those interested in laboratory, scientific, and [[health informatics]].
===LIMSforum Career Opportunities===
Formerly the LinkedIn-associated Lab Careers group, LIMSforum's [https://www.limsforum.com/career-opportunities/ career opportunities] section is available for the viewing and posting of job openings for laboratory, scientific, and health lab careers.
===LIMSforum Online Courses===
Formerly LIMS University, the [https://www.limsforum.com/labcourses/ laboratory courses] at LIMSforum provide free, open-access learning and teaching resources for those wanting to learn more about [[laboratory informatics]].
===LIMSfinder===
[http://www.limsfinder.com/ LIMSfinder] is a web portal for those looking for a LIMS and related information, services, products, news, events, resources, jobs, etc.
===LIMSpec.com===
[https://www.limspec.com/index.php?title=Main_Page LIMSpec.com] provides a collection of datasheets — from lab requirements assessment to LIMS vendor and system questionnaires, validation documents, and more — for identifying LIMS needs and matching them with what's out there.
===LIMSwiki informatics resource portal===
[[LIMSWiki:Resources|The informatics resource portal]] here at LIMSwiki features a collection of as many useful online scientific and health informatics-related materials and research tools as possible, including books, journals, blogs, web portals, education programs, conferences, and more.
==References==
<references/>
<!---Place all category tags here-->
[[Category:LII:Guides, white papers, and other publications]]

Revision as of 19:06, 31 January 2023

Sandbox begins below

Emil Christian Hansen (1842-1909), Danish microbiologist and mycologist

This buyer's guide is based off the LIMS Buyer's Guide, a former publication of the Laboratory Informatics Institute (LII), an open trade association associated with LabLynx, Inc.[1][2] In late 2013, the LII and LabLynx discontinued publishing a copyrighted version and chose to release future guides to the public domain via this wiki. Per the Creative Commons license and the copyright terms of this site, you are free to copy, adapt, distribute, and transmit this guide as long as you 1. give proper attribution and 2. distribute the work only under the same or a similar license.

About this guide

What exactly is a laboratory information management system (LIMS) or laboratory information system (LIS) anyway? Do I need one? What options are available and how do I compare them? What about a request for information (RFI), request for proposal (RFP), or request for quotation (RFQ)? These are questions laboratory professionals typically ponder upon finding themselves charged with the mission of finding software for their lab. It can be a daunting proposition, and there doesn't seem to be any objective reference to help with it all. This guide hopes to change that.

For this free public domain version of the guide, we've added more vendors, updated new information, and added links to video demonstrations of their systems, with the goal of providing the accurate information you need to make decisions for your lab. This guide also strives to be different from any buyer's guide that has ever come before by including pricing. For the first time you have real information as well as pricing so you can quickly pursue only the vendors and products that make sense for you and your lab. While in the past vendors have refrained from providing public pricing, the trend is arguably changing towards a more open information process, though not without its own set of caveats.[3] In theory, that means prices should decrease as LIMS become commodities that labs can compare and contrast in a more competitive fashion.

At the core all labs are in the business of producing reports, data... essentially information.[4] Everything else is just a means to that central goal. So in a very real sense, information management is the core of any lab. In a world where we use the latest technology for most of our daily tasks and pleasures, why do so many labs still rely on hand-written notes and spreadsheets? Spend thousands of dollars on a sophisticated analytical instrument yet hesitate when faced with purchasing an information management system? Why? The primary reason is price priorities.

Since LIMS are increasingly becoming commodities, driving down prices, potential buyers don't need to make the tough decision of one or the other anymore. As technology has improved, smaller LIMS companies have emerged, along with affordable SaaS online subscription models that are trustworthy. This means any lab can put their resources where they belong: in information and its management.

Notes about the content

The LIMS Buyers Guide is here to help you wade through the mire. Use the information and vendor profiles to get a feel for what's out there and what makes the most sense. This guide contains information on everything from "what is a LIMS?" to maintaining and supporting your system. Additionally, whether you call it a LIMS, LIS, or even a LMS, in the end it's simply a tool to better manage your lab's data. This guide will refer to it all as “LIMS” for the sake of simplicity and consistency, though this guide may include systems officially dubbed as a LIS or ELN. Finally, a primary criterion for inclusion in this guide is publicly available pricing information that can thusly be cited. If citeable public pricing is not available, the vendor will not be listed in this guide. Any inappropriate additions will be removed.

How do I find the right LIMS, and how much will it cost?

To hide the contents of this section for easier reading of other sections, click the "Collapse" link to the right.

 

OK, LIMS are getting more affordable, but where do you start? You may know the needs of your lab and how it runs, but perhaps you don't know LIMS and are intimidated by all the options. Take heart! This guide features a compiled list of major and minor players to help you make initial comparisons. However, you'll first need to gauge your lab's informatics needs in order to determine which products are worth investigating further. Of course your lab's analysis requirements, reporting and data sharing constraints, instrument interfacing, barcoding needs, quality assurance processes, etc. are very important factors. But LIMS vary in numerous ways, and other important factors exist. Price should certainly be considered, although value is ultimately more important than a low price. Other important considerations:

  • Should we purchase licenses or "rent" them via subscription?
  • Does the software need to be on-site, or is a SaaS hosted option more practical?
  • Is a modular or complete system better for us?
  • What is the best licensing/rental scheme for us? Show we consider site, named user, concurrent user, or workstation licenses?
  • Is the company qualified and trustworthy?

Purchase vs. subscribe

In the past this was not an option. But much like the recent trend toward leasing cars rather than finding a large amount of money for up-front purchasing, labs can choose to pay only the cost of services (setup, training, report configuration, instrument interfaces, data migration, custom functions, etc.) and get started on a monthly subscription rather than buy licenses outright. When does this make sense? Subscriptions make sense primarily:

  • ...if a large lump sum is hard to get budgeted. If your business cash flow will support the regular subscription fee but finding license fees is more problematic, then a subscription may be right for you. But do the math. Calculate project costs over a reasonable period (e.g. five years) to make sure it is a value proposition. Be sure to include maintenance and support in your figures; this is often included in a subscription but not in a license.
  • ...if you may need to reduce the number of users. Once you buy licenses, they are yours. You can't "un-buy" them. But with a subscription you can raise and lower the number of users, workstations, etc. as you need to.
  • ...if you may need to bail. Business decisions often need to be dynamic. Your lab may decide to go into another area of analysis, and if your LIMS isn't versatile enough to support the change, you have potentially wasted a lot of money.

On the other hand, it may be important to you to have the LIMS source code. Some subscriptions allow you just as much access to it as if you had purchased licenses, while others may not give you the access you seek. Confirm this with the vendor. Alos, ask whether you get to keep an image of the database should you decide to end your subscription.

Onsite vs. SaaS

A small but growing number of LIMS vendors will actually host your system on their servers for you or cloud-host it elsewhere. We refer to software accessed via the Internet rather than your workstation or server as software as a service or SaaS. Most of us already make copious use of SaaS whenever we "Google" something. Cloudhosted SaaS is characterized by multiple load-balanced servers that allow resources to be strategically used, and virtualized servers that allow for the creation of custom environments.To decide if SaaS is for you or if you should go the traditional route, here are some points to consider:

  • If you have a small or overworked IT department, or none at all, then it may make sense to let the LIMS provider take care of those functions rather than invest in additional hardware, personnel, and other resources just to support your LIMS. If you are a large company with an extensive and capable IT department, then you may prefer the LIMS and its database to reside on premises.
  • IT techs cite security as a major reason to keep a LIMS on lab premises. The truth is, if the vendor uses a SAS-70 or SAS 70 Type II data center to host, with GxP SOPs, your system and data are probably a lot safer than on a typical business infrastructure. Ask the vendor.
  • If you decide to have your system hosted, ensure it's not by Bob and his buddy in their basement. The vendor needs to have been around awhile, have solid references, and feature good customer service.
  • A reputable SaaS host will guarantee you high availability, approaching 100% up time, with quick and responsive catastrophe response. Redundant components and infrastructure (power, cooling, etc.) allow them to do that.

Modular vs. complete

Some LIMS are offered as a collection of modules for you to select from to constitute your completed system, while others come complete with all the functionality available. Those whose LIMS are modular espouse the benefit of only paying for the functionality you need. Those whose LIMS come as a complete package say labs won't need to pay extra for any add-ons. Who's right? Well, it depends. If buying modules means you need one module for sample tracking and another for data entry, and still another to generate reports, then it may not be long before you run up a sizable bill just to get basic standard functionality, especially if the modules require hourly services to implement. If the modules tend to be industry-specific and complete, then they may make sense. Make sure you compare your needs with the product functionality and identify all costs associated with getting everything you need out of the software.

Named users vs. concurrent users

When comparing license fees, understand the difference between named users and concurrent users. If a vendor charges by named users, and your lab will have 30 people who will use the LIMS at any time, you will need 30 licenses. If the vendor charges by concurrent users, then you only need enough licenses to cover the number of users who are likely to be on the system at the same time. Typically in a lab with 30 staff, you might need a maximum of 20 concurrent user licenses. This is reduced even further if you have sites in other parts of the world whose work days differ.

The company

As important as the LIMS and its functions are to you, the company is at least as important. Make no mistake: this is a relationship you are entering into. This is not like selecting a piece of furniture. A LIMS is like a living, dynamic entity, and you'll need to interact with the vendor from time to time even with the most trouble-free system. Of course that interaction will be particularly intense in the beginning as they provide installation, provisioning, training, and other set-up services. Take your cue from your initial dealings with them. Just like in any relationship, they will be presenting their best side to you then. If the vendor return calls or emails late or fails to follow through with what they say they'll do, then you can bet it will be much worse once you are their customer. So yes, do the usual: research their years in business, size, staff qualifications, references, etc., but also ask yourself if you would be comfortable doing business with the vendor in the long term.

The functionality

And now we come to what probably has weighed most on your mind since you had the first idea you might need a LIMS: functions and features. The functionality of the LIMS is paramount, so it is important you first have an idea of what a LIMS can do, and then you can begin to decide which functions and features you need or want.

Core functions and features

You should expect the following functions to be demonstrated in a full-function LIMS:

Additional useful features

The following functions aren't necessary for all but useful for many:

How much will it cost?

OK, now you understand what to look for in a company and its products. What you likely don't yet know: the price tag. Heck, most of us don't even know how LIMS vendors price their products or what is involved, much less how much they actually cost. In truth, there are three vital pricing components for any LIMS:

  1. licenses
  2. subscriptions
  3. services

The software itself never comprises the entire cost. LIMS are complex creatures, and your lab, even if it's small, is fairly complex, too. Let's go over what's involved and how much it's roughly going to cost.

Licenses

If the software has a purchased license type (as opposed to rented/subscription), then you will of course have to pay for those. Keep in mind what we said earlier about named vs. concurrent user pricing. Other methods include by site, by CPU or server, by workstation, or by unlimited user corporate level licensing. Arguably the lack of standardization in this area has contributed as much as anything to the vagueness that has surrounded LIMS pricing for so long. The linked vendor profiles in the next section feature pricing information for licenses for the included vendors. (Remember: the primary criterion for inclusion is publicly available pricing.) Review and compare, but make sure you factor in pricing method.

Subscriptions

These include two possible items:

  1. rented or SaaS LIMS
  2. annual maintenance, support, and warranty (MSW)

The cost of LIMS rental is equivalent to the licensed type, but a lump sum up front is not required. These can run anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars a month for a single user up to maybe $2000 or so for 20+ users. Just like purchased licenses, however, these can be priced by site, concurrent or named users, etc., so make sure you compare like with like or at least factor these considerations in as you shop. And your rental may be annual instead of monthly. In most cases it does include all IT services and maintenance, support, and warranty, including updates, at a specified level.

The second type of subscription cost is annual MSW, and you need to factor that into your budgeting if you are buying LIMS licenses. Typically it is priced at around 15 percent of the license fee and is available at graduated levels. A certain level may be standard for a certain number of licenses (for example, 10 hours of support and additional services available at $200 per hour for a 10-concurrent user LIMS), but you can buy a higher level of support and cheaper rate for additional services if you want to pay extra. One thing to keep in mind: with an MSW you will certainly need coverage as you go through your first year. If you think you can then drop it, think again. A modern LIMS should be built on technology that can give it a much longer life span than those in years past. That is dependent on staying updated. If you lose that update path, your LIMS will expire prematurely. If you decide later to renew MSW, you may find yourself liable for the missed years before the vendor will bring you current.

Services

Your LIMS is a function of the cost of the LIMS itself plus the services involved in its implementation plus, in the case of a licensed LIMS, annual MSW. Many first-time LIMS buyers neglect to factor in the cost of services when budgeting. As mentioned earlier, any LIMS will require services to get going, and you may want more if there are extras you need or want. Services break down more or less like this:

Basic implementation services

  • kickoff meeting (planning, coordination, communication procedures, etc.)
  • ƒtraining
  • setup (enter users, configure profiles, departments, tests, screens, etc.)
  • create main report(s)
  • go live support

Additional or optional services

  • instrument interfaces
  • additional reports
  • data migration from a previous system
  • interfaces to other systems or databases
  • special customizations
  • web portal configuration
  • validation
  • standards certification support

You may need other services. Rates for services vary from vendor to vendor, but a good rule of thumb for initial budgeting purposes is to figure service costs to be roughly equal to the licensing cost or to a year's worth of LIMS subscription.

 

Commercial vendors with public pricing

To hide the contents of this section for easier reading of other sections, click the "Collapse" link to the right.

 


Website and submitted pricing

These vendors either post most of their pricing information for their solutions on their website or have submitted their pricing to the wiki admin directly. In all cases, be sure to contact the vendor to verify pricing, as it may change with little notice. Vendors are sorted by number of public videos demonstrating how their products work.

Vendor Pricing Has cloud or
SaaS offering?
# of demo
videos
LIMS? LIS? ELN? CDS
and/or
SDMS?
Additional notes
Research Innovations Limited Link Yes 90+ No No Yes No
LabKey Corporation Link Yes 86 Yes No Yes Yes
Biomatters Ltd. Link No 68 Yes No No No
Creliant Software Pvt. Ltd. Link Yes 60 No Yes No No
Vendor:LabArchives, LLC Link Yes 56 No No Yes No All but Enterprise pricing listed.
Labii, Inc. Link Yes 56 Yes No Yes No Product is combination LIMS and ELN
SLCLAB Informática SL Link Yes 38 Yes Yes No No
Labstep Ltd. Link Yes 28 No No Yes No
Terra Systems OÜ Link No 17 No Yes No No Pricing only available for MiniLIS, not other products.
MEDEORA GmbH Link Yes 16 Yes No No No
HealthScion Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Link Yes 15 Yes No No No LIMS is part of a larger overall platform.
LabLynx, Inc. Link Yes 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes Pricing supplied directly by company.
Labforward GmbH Link Yes 14 No No Yes No
Mestrelab Research S.L. Link Yes 14 No No Yes No
Autoscribe Informatics, Inc. Link Yes 13 Yes No No No Pricing supplied directly by company.
CloudLIMS.com, LLC Link Yes 11 Yes No No No
AgileBio Link No 9 Yes No Yes No
INTEGRIS LIMS GmbH Link No 9 Yes No No No Pricing available for "Small lab solution"; videos in German
Aiderbotics Corporation Link No 7 No No Yes No
WebPathLab, Inc. Link Yes 6 No Yes No No Pay-per-report pricing made public
Forney, LP Link Yes 4 Yes No No No
Vendor:LabSmart Healthcare Technologies Link Yes 4 No Yes No No
Simploud Limited Link No 4 Yes No No No
Mci IT Pty. Ltd. Link Yes 3 Yes No No No
The Edge Software Consultancy Ltd. Link Yes 3 Yes No Yes No
Third Wave Analytics, Inc. Link Yes 3 Yes No No No
BioInfoRx, Inc. Link Yes 2 Yes No No No
Biomed Systems Ltd. Link Yes 2 Yes No No No LIMS available with ELN as add-on.
Broughton Software Ltd. Link Yes 2 Yes No No No Pricing supplied directly by company.
ML Consulting Technologies, LLC Link Yes 2 Yes No No No Free quality control LIMS for small laboratories
Revol Software Solutions, LLC Link Yes 2 Yes No No No
AINZ Corp. Link Yes 1 Yes No No No Former product was PharmWare.
Blaze Systems Corporation Link No 1 Yes No No No Pricing supplied directly by company.
Bureau Conseils et Services SCRL Link Yes 1 Yes No No No Starting prices listed
Bytewize AB Link Yes 1 Yes No No No Pricing only available for O3 LimsXpress.
TeselaGen Biotechnology, Inc. Link Yes 1 Yes No No No Pricing only available for Community and Starter editions.
Vendor:Apex HealthWare, LLC Link Yes 0 No Yes No No Pricing only available for cloud-based POL version.
BiochemLab Solutions Link No 0 No No Yes No Free ad-based and paid ad-free versions of ELN exist.
ChemBytes Link No 0 No No Yes No Its successor to its free basic Espresso ELN will be Phoenix ELN,
yet to be released as free, open-source software.
Dorays Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Link Yes 0 No Yes No No
General LIMS, Inc. Link No 0 Yes No No No
Genetic Technologies, Inc. Link No 0 Yes No No No
J Street Technology, Inc. Link No 0 Yes No No No
LabLite, LLC Link No 0 Yes No No No Pricing supplied directly by company.
Labstudio (Pty) Ltd. Link Yes 0 Yes No No No
Microcline Projects Link Yes 0 Yes No No No
Minerva Data Link Yes 0 No Yes No No
Progeny Genetics, LLC Link Yes 0 Yes No No No
Wolfe Information Systems, Inc. Link No 0 Yes No No No

Free, minimally featured version, but no other public pricing

These vendors provide minimal pricing information, stating they have a free, minimally featured version of their software but not revealing any other pricing information for other versions of the same software. These are usually vendors offering a tiered solution, with the lowest tier being the free tier. Vendors are sorted by number of public videos demonstrating how their products work.

Vendor Pricing Has cloud or
SaaS offering?
# of demo
videos
LIMS? LIS? ELN? CDS
and/or
SDMS?
Additional notes
Benchling, Inc. Link Yes 36 No No Yes No Academic pricing is free, but rest of pricing was removed.
LabSpace, LLC Link Yes 0 No No Yes No Academic pricing is free, but rest of pricing was removed.

GSA pricing

These are vendors who have a publically viewable contract with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and that contract displays prices for their solutions. As these are GSA prices, be aware they represent the lowest possible negotiated price. These prices aren't available to any entity outside of the Federal Government, and thus prices for non-government entities will be higher. If anything, they represent the lowest possible negotiated price. Vendors are sorted by number of public videos demonstrating how their products work.

Vendor Pricing Has cloud or
SaaS offering?
# of demo
videos
LIMS? LIS? ELN? CDS
and/or
SDMS?
Additional notes
Waters Corporation Link No 33 Yes No Yes Yes
LabLynx, Inc. Link Yes 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
STARLIMS Corporation Link Yes 8 Yes No Yes Yes
LabVantage Solutions, Inc. Link Yes 6 Yes No Yes No
LabWare, Inc. Link Yes 6 Yes Yes Yes No
Promium, LLC Link Yes 2 Yes No No No
Xybion Corporation Link Yes 2 Yes No No No
Bentley Systems, Inc. Link No 0 Yes No No No
JusticeTrax, Inc. Link No 0 Yes No No No

Additional resources and help

LIMSforum

Formerly a LinkedIn-associated group, LIMSforum is a web portal for those interested in laboratory, scientific, and health informatics.

LIMSforum Career Opportunities

Formerly the LinkedIn-associated Lab Careers group, LIMSforum's career opportunities section is available for the viewing and posting of job openings for laboratory, scientific, and health lab careers.

LIMSforum Online Courses

Formerly LIMS University, the laboratory courses at LIMSforum provide free, open-access learning and teaching resources for those wanting to learn more about laboratory informatics.

LIMSfinder

LIMSfinder is a web portal for those looking for a LIMS and related information, services, products, news, events, resources, jobs, etc.

LIMSpec.com

LIMSpec.com provides a collection of datasheets — from lab requirements assessment to LIMS vendor and system questionnaires, validation documents, and more — for identifying LIMS needs and matching them with what's out there.

LIMSwiki informatics resource portal

The informatics resource portal here at LIMSwiki features a collection of as many useful online scientific and health informatics-related materials and research tools as possible, including books, journals, blogs, web portals, education programs, conferences, and more.

References

  1. "Laboratory Informatics Institute Established". Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. 17 July 2006. http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C. Retrieved 06 September 2013. 
  2. "The LIMSbook ...everything about LIMS". Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. http://limsbook.com/. Retrieved 06 September 2013. 
  3. Metrick, Gloria (15 August 2011). "Understanding Openness and Other Marketing Tactics in Laboratory Informatics and Other Industries". GeoMetrick Enterprises. http://outonalims.com/2011/08/15/understanding-openness-and-other-marketing-tactics-in-laboratory-informatics-and-other-industries/. Retrieved 06 September 2013. 
  4. Allen, Thomas J.; Cohen, Stephen I. (1969). "Information Flow in Research and Development Laboratories". Administrative Science Quarterly 14 (1): 12–19. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2391357. Retrieved 06 September 2013.