The Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection tests approximately 500,000 blood, milk, and tissue samples from animals each year. The laboratory information and management system LABbase, provided by GUS LAB GmbH, supports this process. It manages the entire sample handling process as well as extensive reporting requirements.
The Opportunity
The Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection (TLV) had repeatedly expanded its former Laboratory Information and Management System (LIMS) with external (custom) software. This resulted in a heterogeneous data processing system that required frequent error corrections. Furthermore, the existing solution lacked versioning for master data changes and testing methods. In addition, while the submission-oriented system could map the sample path through to the test results, it could not handle the reporting and notification requirements to higher-level authorities and databases. The TLV also needed new functions for recording and differentiating between disease types and animal species. For example, reports and notifications regarding cattle must distinguish between calves, yearlings, cows, heifers, and bulls. A sample-oriented and flexibly adaptable system was therefore essential for such classifications as well.
IT – reimagined
The new LABbase solution not only maps every step of the sample processing workflow, but also generates notifications and reports directly from within the system. This sample-oriented system is capable of mapping thousands of different master data records and differentiating between animal species and disease types. LABbase can map roughly half a dozen types of blood samples, as well as thousands of beetle species or cattle subcategories. In addition, the solution transmits this master data via various external interfaces, each with different codes.
In addition, versioning with effective date rules ensures that changes to master data and validation methods are not mistakenly applied retroactively. To support complex data transfer processes in the billing system, Blomesystem developed additional correction tools and validation routines for the staff members responsible for these tasks.
Ready for the Future
How does the Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection benefit from LIMS LABbase?
- The sample-based system fulfills reporting requirements to higher-level authorities, institutions, and databases
- Thanks to versioning of master data and validation methods, errors are now rare in data processing
- The solution provides verification routines and correction tools for complex billing processes
- Comprehensive and ongoing support services
- “Living System”: LABbase’s modular design allows for the flexible integration of new requirements and interfaces
