LABORATORY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY

It is frequently stated that for the development of a quality system in the laboratory, a LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) is needed. In this paper the relation between LIMS and quality systems is discussed. LIMS may have benefits for the quality system, but not necessarily. A constraint - which is not met in many laboratories - is that the LIMS is properly fit into the organization. The LIMS may even tum out to be an obstacle for the quality system. The laboratory quality system makes demands on the LIMS. Most suppliers are not able to meet these demands. Adherence to a quality system by the LIMS supplier is becoming necessary.