Understanding the Difference Between LIMS and LIS
Tablet of contents
Definition of LIMS
A LIMS System (Laboratory Information Management System) is a software developed and designed to manage, track and organise data and processes within the laboratory.
LIMS systems allow automation and management of tasks, such as: sample input registration, sample tracking, work organisation and test assignment, results registration, interfacing with analysers or instruments, inventory management, measuring devices maintenance or results reporting.
The main purpose of a LIMS is to improve laboratory efficiency, ensure data accuracy and traceability, and ensure compliance with industry-specific regulations and standards. A LIMS is suitable for different types of laboratories, such as: clinical analysis laboratories, veterinary laboratories, research laboratories, public health laboratories, water and food laboratories, as well as other scientific and technical testing environments. A LIMS has a sample-based or process-based workflow.
The main features or core components of a LIMS may include:
Samples management: Allowing you to track, trace and manage the samples flow from reception, analysis and report issuance through storage or disposal.
Data management: Structured recording of searchable and usable data, whether analytical or statistical. Enables decisions to be made at an analytical and management level for the correct running of the business.
Processes automation: Automating routine laboratory tasks to increase efficiency and reduce errors, such as interfacing with analysers or other measurement devices, generating automatic search rules, handling rules or alerts.
Quality control: Enable recording of controls, reference samples or equipment calibrations for the creation of trend graphs where the measurements and deviations of the measurements can be displayed, as well as the verification of the method by means of duplicated samples.
Inventory management: Monitoring and managing the inventory of reagents, equipment and other laboratory resources with real-time inventory automation.
Regulatory compliance: Helping laboratories comply with industry-specific regulations and quality standards, such as ISO 17025, ISO 9001, GLP, GMP or other similar standards specific to each country, including tools to review processes traceability, incidents management (non-conformities, corrective actions, Warning values...) or document management.
Reports and analysis: Generating detailed reports and enabling data analysis to improve decision making. It is recommended that these reports can be automatically sent to the destination without a manual sending process.
Integration with the laboratory ecosystem: Providing tools for the customer through web portals to access laboratory samples, connect to other information or management systems such as: other laboratory information systems (LIS or LIMS), hospital information systems (HIS), production control systems, enterprise resource planning systems / accounts softwares (ERP), document managers, customer relationship management systems (CRM), business management systems or even public government systems.
Definition of LIS
A LIS System (Laboratory Information System) is a software designed and developed for the healthcare sector that helps to automate and optimise clinical laboratories.
From sample registration to results reporting, LIS systems allow tasks to be automated and managed.
The main purpose of an LIS is to improve efficiency, ensure accuracy and traceability of clinical laboratory data. An LIS is suitable for different types of laboratories, such as hospitals, clinical analysis laboratories, genetic laboratories, pathology laboratories, toxicology laboratories and veterinary laboratories. A LIS has a patient-based workflow.
The main features or core components of a LIS may include:
Samples management: Track, trace and manage the patient's samples flow from reception, analysis and reporting through traceability to storage or disposal.
Data management:Structured recording of searchable and usable data, whether analytical or statistical. Enables decisions to be made at analytical and management level for the correct running of the business.
Processes automation: Automating routine laboratory tasks to increase efficiency and reduce errors, such as interfacing with analysers, generating automatic search rules, handling rules and alerts.
Quality control: Enable recording of quality controls in order to display trend graphs.
Inventory management: Monitoring and managing the inventory of reagents, equipment and other laboratory resources.
Regulatory compliance : Helping laboratories comply with clinical sector-specific regulations and standards, such as ISO 15189, ISO 9001, HIPAA, RGPD or similar country-specific standards.
Reports and analysis: enerating detailed reports and enabling data analysis to improve decision making. It is recommended that these reports can be automatically sent to the destination without a manual sending process.
Integration with the laboratory ecosystem: Connection to hospital management systems (HIS), connection to other LIS, connection to laboratory equipment, or allowing doctors and patients to access results via web portals.
Key Differences Between LIMS and LIS
A LIMS and an LIS are not exactly the same thing, although they perform similar functions, they are different in terms of the sector in which they are used. A LIMS is found in industrial environments such as chemical, petrochemical, mining, construction, manufacturing, water management or other environments such as agri-food, environmental, oenology, food or molecular biology. LIMS enables you to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices, GMP, and Good Laboratory Practices, GLP, as well as specific regulations such as ISO 17025. A LIS, on the other hand, is found in clinical environments, where the reports are from patients' samples and they must comply with regulations such as ISO 15189, HIPAA or RGPD.
Some of the most complete and powerful LIMS can work in both environments and perform both functions. Learn about Zendo Lims features and what makes it to be a system for use in clinical and industrial environments.
Focus and Scope
| Appearance | LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) | LIS (Laboratory Information System) |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Comprehensive laboratory management, including processes, inventories and logistics. | Clinical data management focused on patients' results. |
| Focus | Laboratory processes and samples management. | Diagnostic tests and clinical data management. |
| Application Area | Industrial, quality control or research laboratories. | Veterinary hospitals or laboratories and clinical laboratories. |
| Sample tracking | Absolute tracking, focusing on samples workflow. | Limited to only clinical context, in relation to patients. |
| Inventory management | Advanced, including reagents, consumables and equipment. | Usually not included or very basic one. |
| Integration with external systems | It enables integration with the entire laboratory ecosystem, from production control systems, other LIMS systems, ERPs, document management systems to integration with governmental public systems. | Increased focus on interoperating with hospital HIS, other LIS or EHR/EMR systems. |
| Regulation and standards | It complies with standardised regulations, such as ISO 17025, GLP or GMP, as well as other regulations specific to each sector. | It complies with medical regulations, such as: HIPAA or ISO 15189, or data protection regulations, such as GDPR. |
| Main users | Scientists, engineers, analysts and researchers. | Physicians, doctors, consultants, clinical technicians and health professionals. |
Increase your laboratory's productivity with Zendo Lims. The comprehensive solution that you were looking for.
User Base
Both a LIS and a LIMS allow access to different types of users and roles within the laboratory, from technical staff to management. Configurations must to be in place to set and limit access to the system's functionalities.
A LIMS system should also have tools for managing users, where their information can be kept up to date. Personal and contact details can be registered, and documentation such as training courses, certificates, curriculum vitae, etc. can be associated. The main type of users interacting with a LIMS may include the following: Scientists or researchers, Laboratory technicians, laboratory managers, quality control staff, system administrators, regulatory compliance personnel, administrative staff, and external customers.
A LIS system is only required to manage and have user access data. The main type of users interacting with a LIMS may be the following: Physicians, laboratory technicians, pathologists or laboratory specialists, administrative and billing staff, customer service staff, system administrators, laboratory managers and indirect users (such as: patients, external physicians and external administrative staff).
Integration and Interoperability
Integration with other systems
Integration with external measurement devices and systems is essential for the laboratory to automate processes and tasks, gaining in accuracy and improving / reducing response times. A LIMS/LIS system provides the laboratory with a centralised tool that connects to its entire environment and avoids access to different applications for different tasks.
An LIS system shall allow connection to hospital management systems (HIS), connection to other LIS, connection to laboratory equipment or allow access to results for doctors and patients via web portals.
A LIMS system should provide customer tools through web portals to access laboratory samples, connect to other information or management systems, such as: other laboratory management systems (LIS or LIMS), production control systems, billing and accounting systems (ERP), documents managers, customer management systems (CRM), business management systems and even government public systems.
Cost Considerations
Initial setup costs for LIMS vs LIS
The cost, of implementing and configuring a LIMS system, is generally more expensive than a LIS system, as more processes controls are involved within the laboratory.
An LIS system is designed for clinical laboratories and it usually comes pre-configured, which allows for shorter set-up times and lower costs.
A LIMS system is designed for ever-changing industrial sectors, which prevents pre-configured data, longer settings, customisation, training and higher initial costs.
Initial costs are also determined by the deployment technology, whether on-premises, hybrid or cloud, as well as by the type of contract, whether permanent or SaaS. For example, if the implementation is local in a permanent licensing mode, the initial costs are much higher than a cloud installation in SaaS mode.
Ongoing maintenance and operational costs
Regardless of whether a LIS or LIMS system is implemented, maintenance and operational costs depend on other factors that are linked to both of them.
Maintenance costs are driven by the type of deployment technology, whether local, hybrid or cloud, as well as by the type of contract, whether permanent or SaaS, as explained in the previous section. A comparison of data storage options for different LIMS from the blog'Zendo Lims Example'.
Local implementation involves spending on hardware and software infrastructure that subsequently needs to be maintained and upgraded. A cloud implementation requires no spending on hardware or software infrastructure, so those costs are avoided. In addition, the licenses are linked to the user and not to the workstation, so the savings are even greater compared to local implementation.
Contracting the license on a permanent basis means that LIS/LIMS maintenance is optional. The laboratory can work without a support contract. Even so, it is recommended to have a maintenance contract. SaaS licensing involves paying periodic fees / subscription for the LIS/LIMS users, however, it allows you to adjust the number of licenses needed at any given time.
Zendo Lims: the new generation of laboratory software. Smarter and more intuitive
Future Trends in Laboratory Information Systems
Emerging technologies impacting LIMS and LIS
Emerging technologies are transforming LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) and LIS (Laboratory Information System) systems, improving their functionalities, efficiency, ability to manage and analyse large volumes of data. These innovations enable better integration, automation and analysis in laboratories. The following are the main emerging technologies that are impacting both systems
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
Optimisation processes, outcome prediction, pattern recognition and anomaly identification are all affected by the LIMS.
Interpretation of results for clinical diagnostics, predictive analytics and reporting based on historical data is affected by the impact on LIS.
Internet of things (IoT)
The impact on LIMS affects the connectivity of instrumentation for automated data entry and real-time monitoring of specific processes.
The impact on LIS affects the medical devices and clinical analysers connectivity , real-time patient monitoring and traceability of samples from collection to final report.
Big Data and Business Intelligence
Data analysis, trending and statistical studies are impacted by the LIMS.
Analysis and detection of clinical patterns, study of population data or epidemiological trends have an impact on LIS.
Cloud Computing
The impact on LIMS is to reduce infrastructure costs, increase system scalability and facilitate collaboration between centres in different geographical locations.
The impact on LIS includes communication between doctors and patients through real-time access to results, interoperability with hospitals and reference laboratories, and reduction of infrastructure costs.
Robotic Automation
The impact on the LIMS is to improve the workflow, to reduce errors and to automate the labelling, processing, transport or storage processes.
Implications for LIS include integration with automated analysers, reducing response times and automating recording, labelling and processing processes.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
The impact on LIMS includes training users to operate equipment and workflows or to visualise 3D data.
Improving staff training through process simulation or equipment handling has an impact on LIS.
Speech Intelligence and Chatbots
Users interacting with the system via voice commands are affected by the LIMS.
Interaction between doctors and technical staff through consultation or voice transcription is affected by the impact on LIS.
The convergence of LIMS and LIS functionalities
The convergence between LIMS and LIS is becoming increasingly visible. Technological evolution and the changing needs of laboratories often mean that healthcare laboratories require more complete and functional systems. As more and more legislation and regulations impact on clinical laboratories, LIMS systems are being implemented as an aid to accreditation and monitoring. Emerging technologies, as mentioned in previous points, favour interoperability between systems and connectivity with devices, centralisation of information, as well as analysis using big data or AI tools.
The convergence of LIMS and LIS reflects the transformation of laboratories into a hybrid model where the boundaries between research and diagnostics are blurring. While each system retains strengths in its traditional areas, modern laboratories are adopting LIMS solutions that incorporate the best of both worlds to optimise efficiency, collaboration and regulatory compliance.
