Laboratory informatics is the specialized application of information technology aimed at optimizing and extending laboratory operations. It encompasses data acquisition (e.g. through sensors and hardware or voice), instrument interfacing, laboratory networking, data processing, specialized data management systems (such as a chromatography data system), a laboratory information management system, scientific data management (including data mining and data warehousing), and knowledge management (including the use of an electronic lab notebook). It has become more prevalent with the rise of other "informatics" disciplines such as bioinformatics, cheminformatics and health informatics. Several graduate programs are focused on some form of laboratory informatics, often with a clinical emphasis. A closely related - some consider subsuming - field is laboratory automation.
Capability Areas
In the context of Public Health Laboratories, the Association of Public Health Laboratories has identified 19 areas for self-assessment of laboratory informatics in their Laboratories Efficiencies Initiative. These include the following Capability Areas.
Laboratory Test Request and Sample Receiving
Test Preparation, LIMS Processing, Test Results Recording and Verification
Report Preparation and Distribution
Laboratory Test Scheduling
Prescheduled Testing
Specimen and Sample Tracking/Chain of Custody
Media, Reagents, Controls: Manufacturing and Inventory
Interoperability and Data Exchange
Statistical Analysis and Surveillance
Billing for Laboratory Services
Contract and Grant Management
Training, Education and Resource Management
Laboratory Certifications/Licensing
Customer Relationship Management
Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) Management
Laboratory Safety and Accident Investigation
Laboratory Mutual Assistance/Disaster Recovery
Core IT Service Management: Hardware, Software and Services
Policies and Procedures, including Budgeting and Funding
Sub-topics
Laboratory information management system (LIMS) List of LIMS software packages Chromatography data system (CDS) Electronic lab notebook (ELN) List of ELN software packages
Organizations
Society for Laboratory Automation & Screening (SLAS) American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Laboratory Informatics Institute