COMPUTERIZATION OF LABORATORIES. CURRENT STATE AND METROLOGICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

Current state and prospects of computerization of laboratories are considered. An exponential growth in the speed and storage space of computers, as well as their cheapening obey «Moore’s law». The use of computers in laboratories has become commonplace, the corresponding programs are being improved and become more accessible. Programmers have ceased to think about computer speed and memory savings. Operations are executed instantly, and laboratory information gained throughout many years can be saved on a common hard disk. In addition to general-purpose programs such as Word or Excel a number of the software of special duty are developed and widely used: LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) and special computer programs. Each LIMS is a consistent program. The laboratory may use several special programs, each of them being focused on a certain type of activity («computerization by blocks»). Those types of programs are used most often because of their simplicity, convenience and low cost. QControl and DControl programs are most common inRussia. All kinds of programs become more and more accessible. Computerization also touches the metrological aspects of the laboratory activity. Correctly written program provides using modern approaches (including complex statistical calculations, Shewhart charts, etc.) almost without special staff training. By entering the results of measurements into the computer and pressing the desired key, the lab technician performs data processing (including calibration and acceptance testing) and control of the stability of measurements, and, if desired, validation and verification of the procedure. In the foreseeable future, computerization will cover almost all laboratories, with specialized programs and simple LIMSs prevailing. The widespread introduction of metrological and other innovations will occur through their incorporation into computer programs.