How is Data Used in the Laboratory?

Data is the lifeblood of laboratories. Whether analysing human serum or environmental soil, data equips labs with the information needed to evaluate samples, identify patterns and make decisions. Regardless of the sector, data is one of the most valuable assets a laboratory owns.

Quality is key

Data quality is key and has a big impact on the accuracy and reliability of results. Without high quality data, results are obsolete. Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) have an important role to play when it comes to producing high quality data. The intelligent software solutions track samples as they move through the lab and generate a watertight Chain of Custody (CoC) trail. LIMS is also used to schedule maintenance for equipment and instruments. This helps labs generate high quality, reproducible data.

The transformative role of big data

A new generation of ‘big data’ has forced laboratories to adopt advanced data-processing solutions. This calibre of software is equipped with the power to process large and complex data sets that traditional platforms can’t handle.

In an article published by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), the authors explore how big data is transforming laboratory medicine. They touch on how big lab data has revolutionised diagnostic modelling, as well as areas like quality control and assessment. The article references a review published in the journal Clinical Biochemistry, which spotlights several real-world laboratory medicine studies. There’s a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and the exciting applications for clinical labs.

Ling Qiu, corresponding author of the study, explains how AI is driving big lab data in the healthcare sector. “Furthermore, as an important part of real-world big data, clinical laboratory big data combined with the data in other fields, like a patient’s diagnosis, diet record, etc. will be used to determine resource allocation, complex disease diagnosis, and judge the prognosis of patients,” says Qiu.

A new era of AI-powered analytics

Laboratory medicine isn’t the only sector benefiting from AI-powered analytics. The trend has swept the LIMS market and an increasing number of software providers are incorporating AI into their products. Find out more about the advent of the digital lab and the growing role of artificial intelligence in ‘Advanced Analytics in The Lab: How AI-Powered Analytics Transforms LIMS Data into Valuable, Action-Ready Insights.’

Laboratory Information Management Systems have a critical role to play when it comes to storing, tracking and analysing data. We dive deeper into why LIMS is considered the “digital backbone” of labs in ‘What is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)?’