Custom Software for the Genomics Industry
Every lab manager knows that good data is essential for advancing science — whether it’s to track trends, confirm or disprove hypotheses, or compare results across experiments. But what’s the best way to ensure decisions are based on good data in your lab environment? Modern clinical diagnostic labs generate a wealth of valuable data through the use of numerous […]
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 — […]
Whether you’re choosing your first laboratory information management system (LIMS) or thinking of upgrading to a different platform, it’s tempting to focus solely on product features and capabilities. But that’s only looking at part of the equation. It’s equally important to consider the services available for the product through the vendor and/or third parties. In our previous post on selecting […]
“Do we need a new laboratory information management system (LIMS) or can we make do with our current system?” This is a question we often hear from labs struggling to make their existing software do what they need. “Replace the LIMS” is generally not the answer labs want to hear. That’s because a new implementation can be costly and time-consuming. […]
When we talk to labs about choosing a laboratory information management system (LIMS), a common question we’re asked is: What will a system cost? First, it’s important to note that with any LIMS purchase, there are three cost categories to consider: the cost of the licenses for the software, the cost for implementing the system into your lab’s specific environment, […]
Regular readers of Semaphore’s blog know that over the last decade we’ve spent hundreds of thousands of hours building software for some of the most innovative, fastest growing laboratories in the world. Our clients know that we have refined our process for collaboration across interdisciplinary teams into a pipeline that produces high-quality and repeatable work. Labbit is a concept we’ve […]
If your lab is considering investing in a laboratory information management system (LIMS), you might be wondering what exactly the process looks like. Implementing a LIMS is a complex undertaking, but if you know what to expect from such a project, it makes tracking its progress and directing the entire process more manageable. While many consultants may follow a similar […]
Laboratories face frequent changes. Whether you’re implementing new workflows or updating an existing one, adding an instrument, iterating on a validated assay, or optimizing processes to keep up with market conditions or advances in technology, one thing is certain — change is inevitable. But that doesn’t make it easy. Humans naturally resist change. We prefer tasks that are comfortable and […]
Day-to-day lab operations rely on workflows to manage people, tasks, and systems so that work follows a consistent process every time. Defined workflows help ensure that all the steps are done in the correct order, are free from errors, and meet regulatory requirements. But, representing lab workflows can be difficult. Without careful definition, you might introduce inaccuracies — such as […]