Data: Instrumentation
Building a Smart Laboratory 2018
DATA Instrumentation
This chapter will consider the different classes of instruments and computerised instrument systems to be found in laboratories and the role they play in computerised experiments and sample processing – and the steady progress towards all-electronic laboratories. However, the choice of best-of-breed
laboratory instruments and instrument systems can present challenges when it comes to getting everything to work together in a seamless way. The final part of this chapter will look at the issue of standard data interchange formats, the extent of the challenge, and some of the initiatives to address them
Simple laboratory instruments D
evices such as analytical balances and pH meters use low-level processing to carry out basic functions that make them easier to
work with. Te tare function on a balance avoids a subtraction step and makes it much easier to weigh out a specific quantity of material. Connecting them to an electronic lab
notebook (ELN), a laboratory information management system (LIMS), a lab execution system (LES), or a robot, adds computer- controlled sensing capability that can significantly off-load manual work. Accessing that balance through an ELN or LES permits direct insertion of the measurement into the database and avoids the risk of transcription errors. In addition, the informatics soſtware can catch errors and carry out calculations that might be needed in later steps of the procedure. Te connection between the instrument and
computer system may be as simple as an RS-232 connection or USB. Direct Ethernet connections or connections through serial-to-Ethernet converters can offer more flexibility by permitting access to the device from different soſtware systems and users. Te inclusion of smart
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technologies in instrumentation significantly improves both their utility and the labs’ workflow.
Computerised instrument systems
Te improvement in workflow becomes more evident as the level of sophistication of the soſtware increases. It is rare to find commercial instrumentation that doesn’t have processing capability either within the instruments’ packaging or, through a connection to an external computer system. The choice of dedicated computer-instrument
combinations vs. multi-user, multi-instrument packages is worth careful consideration. Te most common example is chromatography, which has options from both instrument vendors and third- party suppliers. One of the major differences is data access
and management. In a dedicated format, each computer’s data system is independent and has to be managed individually, including backups to servers. It also means that searching for data may
be more difficult. With multi-user/instrument systems there is only one database that needs to be searched and managed. If you are considering connecting the systems
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