From sample to report: traceability for every stage of the analysis
Record receipt, assign methods and parameters, track execution, review results and issue reports while keeping the service history in a single system.
Quality and traceability features aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 routines
One sample, five stages, one history
See what happens at each stage and what gets recorded. The screens are illustrative and use demo data.
Illustrative system screen. Demo data that does not represent client results.
1. Receipt and identification
The sample arrives and its label is read by a scanner. The inspection protocol records temperature, integrity, volume and photos. Each sample and each container gets a unique identifier.
See this flow in the demoIllustrative system screen. Demo data that does not represent client results.
2. Work order and methods
The work order brings together samples, analyses, containers, consumables and equipment. Each parameter is tied to the method registered by the laboratory, and the analysis worksheets are generated from the work order itself.
See this flow in the demoIllustrative system screen. Demo data that does not represent client results.
3. Execution and result import
The analyst records the readings and the calculation follows the laboratory's method spreadsheet. Instrument results come in by file, in the supported formats, and are linked to the matching analyses. The current version does not offer direct real-time serial capture.
See this flow in the demoIllustrative system screen. Demo data that does not represent client results.
4. Review
The reviewer checks the results next to the registered limits and approves them or sends them back to the analyst. Review follows the workflow configured by the laboratory, and each step is recorded with the person responsible and the date.
See this flow in the demoIllustrative system screen. Demo data that does not represent client results.
5. Report and signature
The report is generated from the laboratory's template, identifying the tests in the accredited scope when this is configured. The ICP-Brasil digital signature uses an A1 certificate, and the client checks the document with a validation code.
See this flow in the demoWhat exists today and what the limits are
Technical decisions, such as acceptance criteria, decision rules, method validation and release of results, belong to the laboratory. The system records and organizes these decisions.
| Topic | Status | What exists today | Limit / laboratory responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipt and handling of samples | Available | Pre-receipt and technical inspection of samples with barcode scanning, unique identification and a history of the stages up to disposal. | Acceptance criteria, storage conditions and handling of deviations at receipt are defined by the laboratory. |
| Instrument result import | Via file import | Imports results from CSV, TXT, XLS and XLSX files and from ASTM E1394, HL7 v2, XML, JSON and fixed-width text formats. Files arrive through an agent installed at the laboratory that watches a folder, by manual upload or by webhook. | The system does not connect to the serial port or directly to the instrument. The ready-made import profiles are generic, with no reader specific to a manufacturer or model, and each instrument is configured and tested with the laboratory. |
| Continuous serial capture | Requires case assessment | The current version does not read instruments through the serial port or through a direct real-time connection. Results come in by file, sent by the local agent, manually or by webhook. | Continuous serial capture is not available in the current version. The needs of each instrument are assessed case by case during the initial assessment. |
| Westgard rules and control charts | Available | Evaluates each run with 6 Westgard rules (1-2s as a warning, 1-3s, 2-2s, R-4s, 4-1s and 10x), shows the 7T trend on the dashboard and plots Levey-Jennings, CUSUM and EWMA charts. The action taken when a rule is violated is configured by the laboratory. | Rules such as 2 of 3 2s, 3-1s, 8x, 9x and 12x are not part of the current version. Flagging a batch as blocked signals the problem, and the decision to release the result rests with the laboratory. |
| Report review and release | Available | Staged workflow: entry in the lab, results review, signature and release. The reviewer approves or returns the result to the analyst, and revisions of issued reports are archived with reason and owner. | The system does not prevent the same person from reviewing and signing a report. Separating these roles is set by the laboratory in the access profiles. |
| ICP-Brasil digital signature | Depends on configuration | Signs the PDF report with an ICP-Brasil A1 digital certificate stored on the server, with a validation code the client can check. | Without a registered A1 certificate, the report carries an electronic signature stamp. A3 certificates, timestamping and long-term PAdES signatures are not available. |
| Regulations and limits | Depends on configuration | The laboratory registers regulations, matrices and maximum allowed values, and the system compares each result with the limits registered for the service. | Regulations are not preloaded. Registering, checking and updating limits are the laboratory's responsibility. |
| Reporting of results | Available | Reports in configurable templates, with comparison against registered limits, marking of accredited tests, partial reports and revisions archived with reason and owner. | Report content, the decision rule and statements of conformity are defined and checked by the laboratory. The uncertainty shown on the report is the value entered, since the system does not calculate it. |
Current features and limits
Receipt and handling of samples
- What exists today
- Pre-receipt and technical inspection of samples with barcode scanning, unique identification and a history of the stages up to disposal.
- Limit / laboratory responsibility
- Acceptance criteria, storage conditions and handling of deviations at receipt are defined by the laboratory.
Instrument result import
- What exists today
- Imports results from CSV, TXT, XLS and XLSX files and from ASTM E1394, HL7 v2, XML, JSON and fixed-width text formats. Files arrive through an agent installed at the laboratory that watches a folder, by manual upload or by webhook.
- Limit / laboratory responsibility
- The system does not connect to the serial port or directly to the instrument. The ready-made import profiles are generic, with no reader specific to a manufacturer or model, and each instrument is configured and tested with the laboratory.
Continuous serial capture
- What exists today
- The current version does not read instruments through the serial port or through a direct real-time connection. Results come in by file, sent by the local agent, manually or by webhook.
- Limit / laboratory responsibility
- Continuous serial capture is not available in the current version. The needs of each instrument are assessed case by case during the initial assessment.
Westgard rules and control charts
- What exists today
- Evaluates each run with 6 Westgard rules (1-2s as a warning, 1-3s, 2-2s, R-4s, 4-1s and 10x), shows the 7T trend on the dashboard and plots Levey-Jennings, CUSUM and EWMA charts. The action taken when a rule is violated is configured by the laboratory.
- Limit / laboratory responsibility
- Rules such as 2 of 3 2s, 3-1s, 8x, 9x and 12x are not part of the current version. Flagging a batch as blocked signals the problem, and the decision to release the result rests with the laboratory.
Report review and release
- What exists today
- Staged workflow: entry in the lab, results review, signature and release. The reviewer approves or returns the result to the analyst, and revisions of issued reports are archived with reason and owner.
- Limit / laboratory responsibility
- The system does not prevent the same person from reviewing and signing a report. Separating these roles is set by the laboratory in the access profiles.
ICP-Brasil digital signature
- What exists today
- Signs the PDF report with an ICP-Brasil A1 digital certificate stored on the server, with a validation code the client can check.
- Limit / laboratory responsibility
- Without a registered A1 certificate, the report carries an electronic signature stamp. A3 certificates, timestamping and long-term PAdES signatures are not available.
Regulations and limits
- What exists today
- The laboratory registers regulations, matrices and maximum allowed values, and the system compares each result with the limits registered for the service.
- Limit / laboratory responsibility
- Regulations are not preloaded. Registering, checking and updating limits are the laboratory's responsibility.
Reporting of results
- What exists today
- Reports in configurable templates, with comparison against registered limits, marking of accredited tests, partial reports and revisions archived with reason and owner.
- Limit / laboratory responsibility
- Report content, the decision rule and statements of conformity are defined and checked by the laboratory. The uncertainty shown on the report is the value entered, since the system does not calculate it.
LIMS features in detail
Each stage has a page with what the system records, how the team uses it and the limits of the current version.
Unique identification to reduce sample mix-ups
Each sample and each container gets its own code, read by a scanner at receipt. The record follows the sample from arrival to disposal, with photos, receipt conditions and the history of each stage.
See detailsA work order with the whole job on one screen
The work order brings together the job's samples, analyses, containers, consumables, equipment and documents. Stages follow the workflow configured by the laboratory, and changes stay in the history with user and date.
See detailsInspection and technical intake with a defined protocol
Each sample type can have its own inspection protocol. The team scans the label, fills in the criteria and records the inspection result with person responsible, date and photos.
See detailsReviewed results and traceable records
The analyst records the readings and the calculation follows the laboratory's method spreadsheet. Each result is linked to the sample, the analytical batch, the reagents and the equipment used, and moves on to review according to the configured workflow.
See detailsControls to identify deviations before release
When the control is entered, the system evaluates the run with Westgard rules and builds Levey-Jennings, CUSUM and EWMA charts. The action taken when a rule is violated is configured by the laboratory.
See detailsReview according to the configured workflow
The analyst enters the result and the reviewer checks it, approves it or sends it back to the analyst. Review follows the workflow configured by the laboratory, and each step is recorded with the person responsible and the date.
See detailsReports in the laboratory's template with digital signature
The report is built from operational data in the template defined by the laboratory. The ICP-Brasil digital signature uses an A1 certificate, and each report carries a validation code for the client to check.
See detailsSample traceability and change history
Starting from the proposal, the system shows the contract, work orders, samples, parameters and reports linked to each other. Each sample has a timeline, and result changes keep the previous value, the user and the date.
See detailsImport results from instruments and spreadsheets
Bring in results through files in supported formats and link the data to the matching analyses. Compatibility with the model, the file and the method used must be confirmed before implementation. The current version does not offer direct real-time serial capture.
See detailsDepth sampling with one sample per layer
At the same point, each layer becomes a sample with its own depth, horizon and result. On the report, the layers appear together and in order, so the profile can be compared.
See detailsFrequently asked questions
How do results get into the system?
By file, in the supported formats, or entered by the team on the analysis screen, depending on the flow available for each method. Instrument results come in by file (CSV, TXT, XLS, XLSX, ASTM, HL7, XML, JSON or fixed-width text), through a local agent that watches a folder, by manual upload or by webhook. Each instrument is configured and tested with the laboratory.
Does the system replace the laboratory's technical control?
No. Methods, criteria, checks and release follow the responsibilities and procedures of the laboratory team. Technical decisions, such as acceptance criteria, decision rules, method validation and release of results, belong to the laboratory. The system records and organizes these decisions.
Can I use the system in a calibration laboratory?
It depends on the laboratory's routines. The system was designed for testing and analysis laboratories, and calibration-specific routines need to be checked case by case during the demo. The fact that ISO/IEC 17025 covers both testing and calibration does not mean the system covers every calibration routine. The system records the uncertainty entered for the parameter, the result and the calibration certificate, or the value calculated by the laboratory's method spreadsheet. The system does not calculate combined or expanded uncertainty; that calculation is in development.
Does the system read the instrument in real time, over the serial port?
No. Continuous serial capture is not available in the current version. Results come in by file, sent by a local agent, by manual upload or by webhook.
Which quality control rules are available?
The system applies 6 rules when evaluating each run (1-2s as a warning, 1-3s, 2-2s, R-4s, 4-1s and 10x) and shows the 7T trend on the dashboard, with Levey-Jennings, CUSUM and EWMA charts. The action taken when a rule is violated is configured by the laboratory: warning, flagging the batch as blocked, logging a quality control nonconformity or reanalysis.
Does the report signature use ICP-Brasil?
ICP-Brasil digital signature on reports with an A1 certificate. A3 certificates and timestamping are not available in the current version. Without a registered A1 certificate, the report carries an electronic signature stamp.
Do the reviewer and the signer have to be different people?
The system does not prevent the same person from reviewing and signing a report. Separating these roles is set by the laboratory in the access profiles.
Can the result be compared with more than one regulation?
Yes. The result is compared with the main regulation and with the secondary regulations registered for the service, and values outside the limit are highlighted. Limits and their updates are maintained by the laboratory.
How does sample cancellation work?
In two steps: the operator requests it with a reason and the supervisor confirms with a password. While the request is pending, it can be reverted, and the reason stays on record.
Does the system suit a laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025?
The system supports routines used by laboratories that work with ISO/IEC 17025, such as sample identification, quality control, review, reports that flag the tests in the accredited scope, and change history. ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is granted to the laboratory for the applicable scope, not to the software. The platform is a support tool. Demonstrating competence and meeting the standard are the laboratory's responsibilities.
Watch a sample go through the LIMS with your laboratory's routine
Free online demo, about 30 minutes long. Our team adapts the examples to your laboratory's routine.