STARLIMS Named Preferred LIMS Provider for Six Genetics Laboratories of UK’s National Health Service

STARLIMS Corporation, a leading global vendor of LIMS (laboratory information management systems), announced today that it has been selected as the preferred LIMS provider for six Genetics Laboratories within the United Kingdom’s National Health Service.

Bringing Top-tier Operations Management Expertise into the Lab
“The decision to purchase STARLIMS was the result of more than a year of evaluations and investigations by several NHS genetics laboratories across the UK. Although genetics has yet to be directly addressed by the National Plan for IT, it was important that we ensured any system purchase met the requirements for interoperability that NPFIT defines. Although STARLIMS was up against stiff competition from other major vendors, the final decision was made unanimously by six laboratories with several more shadowing the tender process with intentions to utilise the evaluation work undertaken,” said Noel Hannan, IT & Technologies Implementation & Project Manager at the West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women’s Health Care NHS Trust.

A Powerful Platform to Connect Laboratories and Regional Public Health Networks
STARLIMS is designed to facilitate collaboration within the lab, between several laboratories, and between labs and other agencies—for more efficient inter-lab assistance, surge capacity response, and disaster recovery. STARLIMS provides comprehensive public health reporting, surveillance and networking capabilities compatible with international standards, such as HL7 messaging, LOINC and SNOMED. An entirely web-based system with zero client-side installation and a particularly short learning curve, it is rapidly deployed throughout the organization.

A Complete Multidisciplinary Solution
STARLIMS software comes with a wide range of tools and wizards, and it is easily configured to match any type of workflow—including the complex multi-step processes typical of microbiology testing. In addition, STARLIMS integrates—into a single compliant platform—the various functions of multidisciplinary public health laboratories: Test scheduling and processing, proactive sample collection, chain of custody for specimens and samples, quality control and assurance, statistical analysis and surveillance, inventory control, etc.

A System Designed for the Long Term
“Genetics is a rapidly developing specialty. Systems must be capable of revision and extension without the need for complete replacement,” added Noel Hannan, noting the enormous expense and inconvenience of regularly replacing outdated laboratory information management systems. “STARLIMS’s unique multi-tier architecture is a distinct advantage, since it will allow us to change databases and upgrade to new versions while keeping our business rules intact. Also, STARLIMS unique and technologically advanced approach to interfacing means that the users will receive an infinitely configurable browser-based experience which can either emulate current methods of working to speed the transition process; or a toolbox of innovative controls to provide appropriate levels of information granularity.”