LIMS and Preclinical Workflow: Another Dimension of the LIS/LIMS Discussion

Having just posted a note discussing the differences between LISs and LIMSs (see: LIS vs. LIMS: It's Time to Blend the Two Types of Lab Information Systems), my attention was drawn to a recent press release from Aperio (see: Aperio and PDS Pathology Data Systems to Develop Integrated Solution for Preclinical Laboratory Workflow) that touched on some of the issues raised in my original note and also raised others. Below is an excerpt from it with boldface emphasis mine:

Aperio Technologies...has teamed with PDS Pathology Data Systems...in the development of an interface between Aperio’s Spectrum digital pathology information management system and PathData, the PDS pathology software system. The interface...is designed to optimize laboratory workflow by providing access to true color whole slide images at sub-micron resolution from within the PathData system...This is the first commercial interface of its kind for preclinical workflow in pathology and significantly streamlines workflow for laboratories using both of these products. “Interfacing with PathData addresses the demands expressed by many of our pharmaceutical and CRO customers regarding the seamless integration of our Spectrum image management (PACS) software with leading LIMS,” said Dirk Soenksen, CEO of Aperio.

I have the following comments about this short but interesting quote:

• First of all, it's quite clear that this announcement is most relevant for research pathology labs as opposed to the clinical labs, given the references to "preclinical workflow" and "pharmaceutical and CRO customers" as well as the announced relationship between Aperio and PDS, a LIMS vendor. This reinforces the assertion in my earlier note that LIMSs are deployed primarily in pharmaceutical and CRO research settings and LISs in clinical settings. Here's a quote from the PDS web home page: We offer a suite of state-of-the-art all-encompassing preclinical data processing tools that form an operational unity to build the most powerful and homogeneous set of Laboratory Information Management Systems available to the professional community.
• Al;though the term workflow frequently crops up in references to clinical labs with support by LISs, the term seems to be equally relevant in preclinical research settings. Workflow support therefore seems to constitute a necessary and desirable feature of LIMSs. However, I suspect that much more attention is paid to it in the for-profit pharmaceutical and CRO labs.
• What I found most interesting about this press release was the multiple references to what I consider very familiar topics: digital pathology, pathology data systems, laboratory workflow, whole slide imaging, and image management (PACS) software. However, the environment that is being discussed is not hospital clinical labs but rather pre-clinical research. I can only conclude that there is much more overlap between the pre-clinical and clinical worlds than I had previously suspected and hence many similarities between LIMSs and LISs. A LIMS company, STARLIMS, has signed up as an exhibitor at the Lab InfoTechSummit to be held on March 16-18, 2009, in Las Vegas. This is the first time such a company has participated in this conference.

Comments

[Mike Harwood]

As the leading SRMS vendor for pre-clinical toxicology, Instem has long been in the business of supporting the often complex workflows of our customers' organizations. We do not consider this to be a LIMS market for two major reasons (a) many have tried to implement LIMS in this area and failed and (b) the whole end-to-end process is study-based and requires solutions that have this very definite approach.
In order to maximize the efficiency of our customers' operations the ability to interface directly to data collection tools such as clinical chemistry analyzers, image capture solutions, balances, bar code readers , implant readers, etc, etc has always been a requirement that system vendors have fulfilled. So, I believe that you are right in suspecting congruence between pre-clinical and clinical system needs where the need is study / trial based, but that the need is not the same in a hospital setting. SRMS stands for "Study Results Management System".