VERSION 10 AS A TECHNOLOGY ENABLER FOR CENTRALIZED DEPLOYMENT

Jeffrey Allen at the US Air Force Petroleum Office’s (AFPET) announced the Air Force’s decision to partner with STARLIMS in adapting the new Version 10 software to provide a fully functional LIMS system which supports a worldwide customer and laboratory structure and a deployed laboratory asset, all with centrally controlled architecture. The US Air Force Petroleum Office offers world wide quality support to over 200 locations using six area laboratories in the Ohio, Florida, California, the UK, Japan and Qatar. Mr. Allen illustrated how the current reshaping of the Air Force from a “cold war” stationary deterrent force to a mobile, rapid deployment force has greatly influenced their decision to migrate to a modern LIMS technology that is able to support the Air Force’s deployable mission requirements and provide timely, worldwide customer access to critical analysis results. 

THE ROI OF A 2,500 USER STANDARD LIMS

Jerry Telles, at the Global Downstream IT division of ChevronTexaco, presented the ROI of a standardized 2,500 user STARLIMS implementation. As a large organization with multi-laboratory facilities, ChevronTexaco recognized the need and potential benefits of adapting an integrated approach in selecting a LIMS.  Since December 2003, the five refining sites across North America run STARLIMS as an essential component of the enterprise IT strategy. The standardization project covered the development of consistent procedures, processes and methodologies. Activities were aided by single detailed appropriation requests and corporate licensing agreements. Notwithstanding the challenges associated with establishing the standardized LIMS, the financial and operational benefits are evident. Cost benefits increase as new sites are added with STARLIMS being rolled out to ChevronTexaco international plants.

REGULATORY CONCERNS IN A MULTI NATIONAL DEPLOYMENT

David Dasso contractor to the Department of Defense, Medical Research Information Technology System (MeRITS) outlined multi-cultural and multi-lingual challenges in global LIMS deployments. The Department of Defense plays an active role as a drug, vaccine & device developer. The MeRITS office is currently involved in a major effort to address the rapidly changing regulatory and technological environment which both the biopharmaceutical industry and the Department of Defense are confronted. This effort will result in improved regulatory compliance and business efficiencies to meet the challenges of the global enterprise for today and tomorrow. Mr. Dasso outlined the phases that will enable standardized deployment of STARLIMS in all subordinate organizations meeting the needs of very different research areas.  The Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), based in Thailand was selected as the best candidate site for conducting the STARLIMS Pilot implementation beginning with the Virology Department and incrementally expanding capabilities and functionality to other departments at AFRIMS.  Unique process differences are not the only concern MeRITS encounters, as language, physical environment, technology infrastructure, local resources and cultural idiosyncrasies are all factors that need to be addressed in order to mitigate business and regulatory risk.

10 YEAR TRACK RECORD OF CHANGE

Joseph Cerminaro and Mark Laney shared Baxter Healthcare Medication’s 10 year track record association with STARLIMS implemented over 5 plants that manufacture IV bags and solutions. User requirements even among facilities with very similar manufacturing and quality processes can differ. This makes the design and ongoing maintenance of a standard system a challenge. The multi-facility STARLIMS deployment is managed by a central core team which leverages STARLIMS flexibility to accommodate local differences configured in the system without having to design separate systems for each plant. Baxter’s business is highly regulated by the FDA. In such an environment, adherence to current business rules, especially for systems used to make quality decisions on products is critical to the business.  Hence, Baxter places high value on the development of systems which can automate the following of business rules and help “mistake-proof” the laboratory environment.  

ISO 17025 ACCREDITATION ACCELERATOR

Deborah-Ann van Geelen of Anglo American Research Labs (AARL) described how STARLIMS aided in automating the lab satisfying ISO 17025 certification standards. AARL are a division of Anglo American plc, a global mining company. AARL has 5 laboratories namely Geochemistry, Analytical, Ore Characterization, Mineralogy and Environmental, which have distinctive but different workflows. The laboratories analyze samples from various sources and provide detailed reports on the composition of the samples. The STARLIMS Project was initiated in 2001 to replace various standalone solutions such as Microsoft Access and Excel Spreadsheets. STARLIMS flexibility has been key to the success of the implementation. AARL are able to accommodate the individual laboratories procedures and create an overall streamlined process enhancing AARL’s competitiveness, reducing operating costs and allowing productivity to be more efficiently and effectively monitored.

EXTRACTING DATA FROM WATER

Tom Bushly of the USGS presented a detailed description of STARLIMS role at National Water Quality Lab (NWQL) in changing water into data employing STARLIMS traceability functionality. NWQL provides the USGS and the public with high quality, reliable data to describe and understand the earth's hydrology through the impartial application of science and technology to physical, chemical, and biological analyses of water, sediments, and fish tissue. The NWQL operates an integrated network of 22 servers and 319 workstations providing support to all sections of the laboratory including lab instrumentation. STARLIMS provides personalized schedules and worksheets to assist laboratory technicians in satisfying customer requests for timely analysis. NWQL’s web interface provides customers access to sample status and billing information anytime day or night, any day of the week.  The current STARLIMS database holds 12.5 million results, 98% of the data creation is automated and all entries are monitored by sophisticated error checking mechanisms and audit trails. USGS is planning future system enhancements taking advantage of the STARLIMS version 10 web based functionality.

FARM TO FORK

Jay Ross from the California Animal Health and Food Safety Labs (CAHFS) at the University of California, Davis, enlightened the community, of STARLIMS contribution in the goal to reach true farm to fork traceability. STARLIMS first deployment at CAHFS is aimed at automating sample analysis of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).  The mission of CAHFS is to provide the citizens of California with the highest quality diagnostic laboratory support service for livestock and poultry disease control, enhancement of livestock and poultry health management and ensuring the safety of foods of animal origin. CAHFS plays a pivotal role in the protection from diseases common to animals and humans, equine health and performance and the recognition and dissemination of new knowledge.  STARLIMS was selected by the CAHFS due to the fulfillment of automation requirements, the flexibility in overall architecture, integrated messaging capabilities, previous experience in a public health environment and instrument integration features. Key IT issues being addressed are standards based messaging (PHIN-MS, HL7) and adequate standardization of data (LOINC, SNOMED). The BSE project is one of the first implementations of a multi-organizational “program” and involves a combination of systems and organizations. A Chain of Custody is established early in the process as is the union of data to the sample.  The BSE program further introduced requirements for data integration using XML and the need for comprehensive barcode technologies, all of which have been handled seamlessly by STARLIMS.