SLIMS, A Web-based Spectral Laboratory Information Management System

Antony Williams
ACS Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, Fall 1997.

At ACD/Labs we have designed and implemented a system to allow corporate-wide access to analytical information, focussing specifically on spectral information.

A number of efforts have been made over the years to implement flexible Laboratory Information Management Systems, LIMS. These have included, and indeed still include: filing systems for data, paper trails and log books, simple spreadsheets containing sample identifiers and information as well as software based vendor-supplied LIMS system. Software LIMS systems have failed to address the flexibility of interface and features required in an analytical environment that requires access to molecular structures and graphics intensive spectral displays.

As a result of collaborative efforts with Eastman-Kodak company we have developed a web-based LIMS systems for managing spectral and associated molecular structure information. This user-friendly system links a unique sample identifier to sample information, a chemical structure or structures, associated spectra and final reports of analysis. This full-featured sample manager allows desktop access to sample information, structures and spectra, as well as access to a structure database for accessing historical reference data.