Applied Biosystems and METTLER TOLEDO Introduce Solution to Simplify the Flow of Information in Life Science and Chemistry Laboratories

Applied Biosystems, an Applera Corporation business, and METTLER TOLEDO today announced an integrated solution that is expected to improve the workflow and the transfer of information in laboratories for many scientific disciplines, including the life science, chemistry, food and petrochemical industries. The companies have collaborated to create a unique solution through which they are providing researchers in these fields the means to exchange data between precision instruments and laboratory information management systems.

This one-of-a-kind solution, seamlessly integrates Applied Biosystems’ SQL*LIMS laboratory information management system (LIMS) with METTLER TOLEDO’s LabX Data Management Software. The combination creates the ability to manage data more efficiently, while saving researchers time and costs in day-to-day laboratory processes, when compared to using instruments that are controlled by their own software and that operate independently of any information management systems. Applied Biosystems will sell, install and maintain SQL*LIMS systems and implement the integration of LabX software.

Analytical and precision balance as well as titration instruments are used for a variety of applications. In many laboratories, they are the basis of virtually all everyday processes. For the laboratory to meet Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards, these processes must be perfected and fully checked for accuracy before they can be used routinely. The combined SQL*LIMS and LabX package provides a fully validated system that eliminates the need to check each process for accuracy.

This solution combines the expertise of two leading companies in the life-science and analytical-instrumentation fields. Applied Biosystems is a global leader in the development and commercialization of instrument-based systems, consumables, software and services for the life science market. It has more than 25 years of experience as a leader in LIMS technology with more than 30,000 professionals worldwide using its SQL*LIMS software in industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and petrochemical manufacturing, environmental science, food and beverage production, and forensic analysis. METTLER TOLEDO is a worldwide market leader in balances and analytical instruments, including titration equipment. The company’s precision instruments are used in research, drug discovery and quality control laboratories, in the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and cosmetics industries.

"We looked to partner with one of the leading LIMS suppliers in the laboratory world, who had the necessary credentials to support our customers in their informatics needs," said Holger Linnertz, head of LabX Competence Center at METTLER TOLEDO, "SQL*LIMS from Applied Biosystems has a long track record of industry leadership and provides a complete enterprise-accessible solution that meets the demands of laboratories across a broad range scientific disciplines."

SQL*LIMS can be used by laboratories to manage the entire laboratory workflow, including raw materials, sample tracking and data collection. LabX Data Management and Instrument control Software controls all METTLER TOLEDO precision and analytical balances as well as titration instruments and manages the data they produce. Once the two packages are integrated, SQL*LIMS takes sample data and, using LabX Data Management Software, sends all operator instructions to the METTLER TOLEDO instrument screen as a simple and intuitive user interface, so that users can operate the laboratory instruments as normal. The software guides the operator through each step of a work list, ensuring standard operating procedures (SOPs) are followed to avoid procedural errors. It performs full data acquisition, data storage, and automated reporting and documentation for audit trails; data can be stored within the LabX database and/or the LIMS as appropriate.

"This joint solution enables Applied Biosystems to extend its global expertise in LIMS into important new markets," said Peter Boogaard, director for LIMS product management for Applied Biosystems, "We will be able to offer METTLER TOLEDO’s customers an integrated and more flexible validated solution for managing their informatics data than the series of disparate information systems which are often found in scientific laboratories using instruments and software from multiple vendors."