Labrat LIMS

Abstract

The biotechnology industry has long recognized the need for robust methods for tracking samples and data; however, it is only with the recent widespread adoption of genomic scale experiments that smaller academic facilities have also begun to appreciate the value of laboratory information management systems (LIMS) for use in tracking samples through the many procedures involved, including automated data collection and analysis. We have designed an extensible LIMS database backend collectively called Labrat LIMS. The Labrat LIMS database is an extremely flexible reference schema for implementing a generic LIMS system. Additionally, we have created two front-end implementations for the Labrat LIMS database: Labrat LIMS Web Interface and Microarray Data Portal for use in sample tracking and microarray data analysis, respectively. Although designed primarily for microarray sample tracking and analysis, we believe that the flexibility of generic data management and multiple front-end interface architecture make Labrat LIMS an extremely robust LIMS architecture. Here we present the schema and implementation of this system.