Integration with LIMS
Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) are information management systems designed specifically for the laboratory. This includes analytical labs, environmental labs, research and development (R&D) labs, in-process testing labs, quality assurance (QA) labs, and more. Typically, LIMS connect the analytical instruments in the lab to one or more workstations or personal computers (PC). These instruments -- such as chromatographs -- are used to collect data. An instrument interface -- such as an integrator -- is used to forward the data from the chromatograph to the PC, where the data is organized into meaningful information. This information is further sorted and organized into various report formats based upon the type of report required. Full-featured Laboratory Information Management Systems manage various lab data from sample log-ins to reporting results.
LabCORE is a Laboratory Document Management System (LDMS) specifically designed to integrate with a LIMS. (See Promium Case Study) LabCORE has an open architecture that allows the advantage of a variety of client/server applications and enterprise-wide access to lab information. LabCORE supports database engines such as Oracle, MS SQL Server, Interbase and open-source databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and Firebird. In addition, any ODBC enabled database can be accessed. The LabCORE database can import and export data to an existing heterogeneous database network using various protocols such as HTTP, XML, WebDAV, XML-RPC, SOAP and FTP.
Data can also be exchanged through access to external relational databases, or by internal processes that work with formats such as CSV (Comma Separated Value) files. LabCORE enables the capture of data by a variety of methods. Besides uploading documents and data from a browser, documents and data can be captured through XML, relational database access, and client programs which enable dragging and dropping of multiple documents and folders directly into LabCORE.
LabCORE is built upon the Zope application server (www.zope.com) and is the heart of many large enterprise web applications. Zope supports open standards and protocols such as XML, XML-RPC, SOAP, WebDAV and FTP. Zope can integrate with external relational databases through native database adapters or ODBC. These protocols and adapters allow easy integration with any LIMS. The Zope application server also allows more extensive and complex integration by use of the Python programming language (www.python.org). Python can be used to quickly create extension modules that can integrate with almost any external system with an API or other interface. Other advantages of LabCORE's ZOPE architecture are as follows:
- Zope includes a sophisticated internal search engine, which enables the powerful retrieval capabilities of LabCORE.
- Zope architecture includes an object publisher to simplify the access of data though the web browser.
- The Zope application server has a flexible data storage model.
- Most content is stored in an internal object database or on the file system under control of the object database.
- The storage locations of the object database can be partitioned, so that data can be stored on multiple drives, or even systems, but still operate as one database.
The end result is a world-class application that provides a streamlined process for the exchange of documents and data between LabCORE and existing laboratory information management systems.
For more information about LabCORE, contact:
Mark Ferrero
President
P-Wave Inc.
591 Canal Street, Suite 304
Reading, Pennsylvania 19602 USA
markf@p-wave.com
www.lab-core.com
+1.610.372.7890 x22 |
