SCC Soft Computer headquartered in Clearwater offers SoftLab, their Laboratory Information Management (LIMS) offering , emphasizing multi-site data coordination and centralization, and workflow automation, with a rules-based system.
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Thermo Fisher SampleManager LIMS
Score 10.0 out of 10
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Thermo Fisher Scientific supports laboratory research with supplies and equipment but also software; the Thermo Fisher SampleManager LIMS is a widely used laboratory information management system dedicated to data and resource management, as well as automation and operational support.
Verifying critical results via SoftLab is a very well demonstration of its high functionality. You can add a message to the result that it's been repeated and results are confirmed. Also, you can add the name of the nurse who was notified of the result. Also, you can see the previous results right next to the current one with the date it was performed. All of these aforementioned features are available in the same window making it a very good experience to verify a critical result as a Medical Lab Scientist. SoftLab has been never less appropriate to face any scenarios. It has always exceeded my expectations.
While being an active user at MTF, LIMS was great in being able to complete testing and other daily tasks that would have taken much longer without this system. It enabled a great overall satisfaction to be able to pinpoint who performed each task based on time stamping and avoided many errors regarding lot numbers, expiration dates, and equipment IDs. Thus, being able to validate and report data out to other departments was ALOT faster, which is highly important being that much of our testing was heavily time sensitive and crucial to sustaining life. However, although LIMS improved the companies overall effectiveness and efficiency, it had some minor issues that created more than one problem. Being that I am no longer employed at MTF, time studies performed utilizing LIMS while testing resulted in the loss of five positions within the laboratory. It's great that it's so fast, but caused controversy by eliminating employees who were highly proficient while using the LIMS software. Also during usage, it would crash numerous times, which would either delay the input of data or completely wipe it out. On several occasions, we risked having to declare deviations on the fact that data was permanently deleted and never to be able to be retained again. This also resulted in a loss of millions of dollars due to tissue and bone samples being thrown away because there was no data to support they were able to be used in surgeries.
Receiving of specimens is highly convenient now and can be done via two platforms within the same software. We use a scanner to scan the barcode as opposed to typing in any info. So in addition to being convenient, it reduces clerical errors.
Verifying results was never easier now with just one click. Patient results are verified and sent to the nurses and doctors. Also, to our convenience, a list of codes/messages are available such as this test has been repeated. In addition to keeping a record of calling in critical results.
Logging in our daily core lab instruments QC results and maintenance tasks have now been transformed from paperwork to verifying and enter results via SoftLab QC which is very easy and enjoyable.
I have yet to find any features that are hard to use. I honestly believe that SoftLab is very easy to use and is 100% user-friendly. SoftLab has outdone itself as an LIS and needs no improvement.
LIMS can be an extremely slow system if not updated to the most current version, which can also cause the system to crash in the midst of recording/testing.
Disables certain features to be accessible depending on user status.
Does not always adhere to set protocols or standards made for specific data input.
Thermo Fisher Scientific LIMS is fantastic in that it has a wide range to store and change data regarding instrumentation, reagents, equipment, materials, and testing layouts. Information can be backed up for quite some time, which is great in the instance that data needs to be pulled immediately, regardless when it was last accessed. It also enables testing to follow a better flow through following the way in which the set up is displayed within the LIMS system.
As a Medical Lab Scientist, I believe that SoftLab made it easier and quicker to verify results meaning that results are available to Doctors a lot faster than before which in return may lessen the wait time of patients in ER which makes them happy and will definitely come back again when in need which is good from a business point of view.
