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Build LIMS yourself or buy a commercial LIMS?

7. Sep 2015 | Tags: Cost of LIMS

Guest posting – published with the permission of Siri H. Segalstad

COST OF LIMS – Part 1 of 3

Advocates for building a new LIMS themselves usually state that their lab is so unique they cannot use a commercial LIMS. However, very few labs are truly unique — it is actually their products that are unique. Labs, in general, work the same way:

In reality, the only things that are unique are that every lab has their own types of sample, sets of instruments, analytical methods, and specifications; each of which can easily be implemented into a commercial LIMS.

Additionally there are two main types of production: Batch production where you produce you products in discrete batches; and continuous production, like oil refineries where the products may even defined only after the production has been done to see when they conform to specifications for the various products. Most labs working in a batch environment, usually also have their own continuous production of purified water, and time-based bacterial or cleaning-in-place check. While some LIMS systems may be better at one type of production than for the other, most will handle all types equally well.

Time and flexibility

Advocates of homemade LIMS also say that they can build a LIMS in a few months in an Oracle, Access or SQL database. Of course, this will be completely tailored to their needs and will be much cheaper than a commercial system. Let’s discuss these statements:

In any case, the lab would definitely have GAMP (ref 1) Category 5 software. This means extensive validation, which will cost a lot more than a purchased Category 4 software. A homemade system will be frowned upon and scrutinized by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and European authorities — and probably not pass the inspection. Back to square one.

Very few companies build in-house systems these days. However, a few old systems are still in use. Regulators for e.g. the pharmaceutical industry scrutinize these systems, and find everything wrong with them. The question is whether the company is a pharmaceutical company or a software developer. Some companies have received severe ‘Warning Letters’ from the FDA (ref 2) for their innovative programming and lack of system maintenance.

Conclusion – “Kill the build-it-yourself thought immediately”

So you see, it simply does not make sense to create your own LIMS. Even if your IT people would love to create it for you “in only a few months”, don’t believe them. History has shown that, regardless of the amount of time spent programming an in-house system, it is never as good and as flexible as buying a commercial LIMS. In addition, in-house projects are very likely to suffer delays, and will invariably be more expensive than expected. It is better to spend your money on a commercial system and get what you need, instead of spending on a programmer from whom, if you are lucky, you will get some of the functionality you need, but not the flexibility, and at a much later time than expected. Chances are that, when you finally get the homegrown system, your needs will have changed, too, and the system is no longer what you want.

For all of the reasons cited above, I recommend that you kill the build-it-yourself thought immediately. You are not going to get a 100-percent system even if you build it yourself. So, you may just as well make do with a 90- to 95-percent system purchased from a commercial supplier. The LIMS suppliers have been in the business for a long time, and the LIMS systems are now mature, well understood, and not the least: very flexible to fit all labs.

Read more about the cost of LIMS in part 2!

Writer:

Siri H. Segalstad – Segalstad Consulting AS