What’s Going on in My Lab: 8 Ways to Use Lab Report Summaries

Many of us endure meeting after meeting, SCRUM upon SCRUM, stand-ups, unnecessary emails, Slack messages, and Teams calls. 

Does that sound like what’s happening in your lab? 

It doesn’t have to be. Here are 8 easy methods to minimize administrative time-wasters and maximize your lab’s collective wisdom, access to historical data, and real-time understanding of the status of everything that is going on in the lab! An organized Lab Report Summary that gives you a “bird’s eye view” of your lab operations ensures a sustainable digital lab strategy.

What Do We Care About the Most in the Lab?

Is there a critical piece of equipment that’s down? Did some samples get misplaced? 

Multiple events can bring your lab’s progress to a screeching halt. If we bucket them into similar categories, we come up with eight lab priorities:

1. Samples’ Integrity and Analysis

2. Protocol and SOP Repository

3. Sample Storage Unit Usage and Temperature Monitoring

4. Equipment and Asset Management

5. Supplies and Consumables Tracking

6. Projects, Studies, Experiments, and Lab Report Tracking

7. Integration, Automation, and Expansion

8. Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

Having a centralized report covering the above is how you can summarize the “state of your lab’s union” into a visually digestible ecosystem. In the eLabNext platform, you can develop your ideal bookmarks and search features to access reports and summaries of your lab by centralizing your Report Summaries, one module at a time.

Consider each bucket below and some actionable ways to track your lab’s priorities.

1) Samples’ Integrity and Analysis

• Implement a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) as a central hub for all sample and inventory data and information.
• Implement a centralized sample tracking system allowing easy entry and retrieval of sample information.
• Utilize barcode systems for quick identification and tracking, ensuring accurate record-keeping.
• Regularly update the status and condition of samples, including any changes or deviations from the expected conditions.
• Create as many metadata fields as possible. The more fields you create, the more tools you’ll have to segment and access data for dashboarding and gaining insight into your lab!

2) Protocol and SOP Repository

• Establish a robust document management system for protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensuring version control and approvals are well-documented.
• Clearly define roles and responsibilities for approving and updating protocols to maintain consistency.
• Use a repository of all protocols (SOPs included), with version control and user permission set up to ensure ownership and chain of custody.

3) Sample Storage Unit Usage and Temperature Monitoring

• Implement monitoring systems for storage units to track temperature, humidity, and overall condition in real-time.
• Set up automated alerts for deviations from optimal storage conditions, preventing potential issues with sample integrity. Pro Tip: Use VNLS or Elemental Machines.
• Conduct regular maintenance checks and calibrations to ensure equipment reliability.

4) Equipment and Asset Management

• Utilize an equipment management system that provides real-time information on equipment location, usage logs, and availability.
• Integrate barcode systems for efficient equipment tracking and identification.
• Define metadata fields to capture relevant information about each piece of equipment.
• Set up calibration/validation expiration dates and proactively monitor them.

5) Supplies and Consumables Tracking

• Implement an inventory management system to track supplies and consumables in real-time.
• Set up automated notifications for low stock levels, streamlining the reordering process.
• Establish a well-defined protocol for ordering supplies, ensuring timely restocking to avoid disruptions.

6) Projects, Studies, Experiments, and Lab Report Tracking

• Use an Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) to track the status of ongoing projects, studies, and reports.
• Regularly update project timelines and milestones, providing a comprehensive view of progress.
• Archive historical information and results for future reference and continuous improvement.

7) Integration, Automation, and Expansion

• Integrate your Digital Lab Platform with your favorite digital tools to centralize everything.
• Utilize data visualization tools to establish connections, correlations, and summaries for better decision-making.
• Automate repetitive tasks by implementing automation tools for routine and repetitive tasks, such as data entry, report generation, and sample tracking.
• Ensure interoperability between various software tools used in the lab to minimize manual data entry and reduce errors.

8) Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

• Expand Data Analytics Capabilities for your samples (with your LIMS) and your reports (with your ELN).
• Invest in advanced data analytics tools to derive meaningful insights from the wealth of data generated in the lab.
• Implement machine learning algorithms to analyze trends, predict equipment failures, and optimize resource allocation.
• Leverage the API and SDK to create your databases and dashboards specific to your needs.

Conclusion

By focusing on these key aspects of your operations, your lab can streamline processes, enhance data accessibility, and ultimately optimize overall efficiency and knowledge management. ​​Foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the lab to maximize the benefits of a centralized system. 

If you’re interested in how to do that and where to get started, contact us to learn more about eLabNext.