CONTENTS | LABORATORY INFORMATICS GUIDE 2013
WELCOME INSIDE INFORMATICS
Why understanding the functional and business requirements is an essential first step in any informatics project
THE INFORMATICS LANDSCAPE
John Trigg explores the state of play in the laboratory informatics market
WHEN DATA COMES TOGETHER
Peter Boogaard reports on the process of laboratory data integration
PRODUCT ROUND-UP
Warren Clark summarises the latest informatics solutions
E-MANAGEMENT FOR E-DOCUMENTS
Siân Harris looks at tools for document management and how they are helping scientific workflows
INFORMATICS IN ACTION
Industry professionals deliver their hands-on view of informatics
SUPPLIERS
A comprehensive listing of suppliers, consultants and integrators
EDITORIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Editor: Beth Harlen (
editor.scw@
europascience.com) Feature Writers: Siân Harris, Peter Boogaard, John Trigg Circulation/readership enquiries: Pete Vine (
subs@europascience.com)
ADVERTISING TEAM Advertising Sales Manager: Darren Ebbs (
darren.ebbs@europascience.com) Tel: +44 (0) 1223 275465 Fax +44 (0) 1223 213385 Business Development Manager: Sarah Ellis-Miller (
sarah.ellis.miller@
europascience.com) Tel: +44 (0) 1223 275466 Fax +44 (0) 1223 213385 Advertising Production: David Houghton (
david.houghton@europascience.com) Tel: +44 (0)1223 275474 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 213385
CORPORATE TEAM Publishing Director: Warren Clark Chairman and Publisher: Dr Tom Wilkie Web:
www.scientific-computing.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS: The Laboratory Informatics Guide 2013 is published by Europa Science Ltd, which also publishes Scientific Computing World. Free registration is available to qualifying individuals (register online at www.
scientific-computing.com). Subscriptions £100 a year for six issues to readers outside registration requirements. Single issue £20. Orders to ESL, SCW Circulation, 9 Clifton Court, Cambridge CB1 7BN, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 211170. Fax: +44 (0)1223 213385. ©2012 Europa Science Ltd. Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this magazine, errors or omissions are not the responsibility of the publishers or of the editorial staff. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or editorial staff. All rights reserved. Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned are not formally endorsed by Europa Science Ltd, which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication.
US COPIES: Scientific Computing World (ISSN 1356-7853/USPS No 018-753) is published bi-monthly for £100 per year by Europa Science Ltd, and distributed in the USA by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Rd, Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville PA. Postmaster: Send address corrections to Scientific Computing World PO Box 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437.
COVER:
Shutterstock.com 31
Beth Harlen Editor
26 21 14 10 6 4
The laboratory informatics landscape is changing, and we have made a few changes to our annual Laboratory Informatics Guide this year, to reflect these developments. Our over-riding aim is to provide valuable information for users, or indeed prospective users, of laboratory information management systems (LIMS), electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) and other informatics solutions. That aim remains paramount, but we have changed the guide to reflect how all these technologies are coming together. On page 6, John Trigg explains why there is change
in the air. Peter Boogaard turns his attention to the question of data integration (p. 10) and Siân Harris investigates document management solutions (p. 21). Rounding out our features, on page 26, five end users discuss the problems and the benefits of implementing informatics software in their laboratories. For detailed information on informatics solutions, our product pages (p.14) and comprehensive suppliers’ listings (p. 31) will provide the very best starting point. The Laboratory Informatics Guide 2013 is a supplement
to Scientific Computing World, which is available for free subscription online at
www.scientific-computing.com/ subscribe.
www.scientific-computing.com/lig2013 | 3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40