Computer automated laboratory system

Computer Automated Laboratory System/ Environmental Waste Database System... 

CALS—See Computer automated laboratory system CAS On-Line, 22,95 Central limit theorem, 115 Certificate of analysis, 21 Clustering methods, 91,93-97 Clusters technology, 42... 

Unmanned satellite laboratories are a possible alternative to a central laboratory facility. To demonstrate the practicality of such an approach, investigators at the University of Virginia have developed remote automated laboratory systems- (RALS) designed to automate POCT in hospital intensive care units. The results from the analytical instruments in each RALS are sent to a central monitoring workstation several floors away from the satellite laboratory by a network interface, where results are viewed and either accepted or rejected by a trained medical technologist before being released for clinical use. Error codes built into the analytical instruments are also passed to the main laboratory by the computer netw ork. Technologists in the control center can also shut down the satellite laboratory when necessary, as in the case of instrument failure. Patient information is downloaded from the hospital information system in real time so that users can select their patients and the tests to perform from a fist presented on the computer touchscreen. 

A term used to cover a broad range of systems, including automated manufacturing equipment, control systems, automated laboratory systems. Manufacturing Execution Systems (MESs) and computers running laboratory or... 

An Automated Analysis System for a Tensile Tester," Tyson T. Gill, in Computer Applications in the Polvmer Laboratory. ACS Symposium Series 313, 1986. 

Computer-Based Laboratory for Developing Practical Automated Feedback Control Systems for Batch Polymerizations... 

An automated system, by definition, should perform a required act at a predetermined point in the process and should have a self-regulating action. This implies that intervention by the analyst is not required during the procedure and that only those systems that incorporate a microprocessor or computer to control and monitor their performance can be designated as automated. Some systems may not comply strictly with this definition but are a valuable means of mechanizing laboratory activities. 

The term computer system can define any of the following desktop systems client or of the following desktop systems client or server systems automated process control and laboratory systems host-based systems data acquisition and analysis systems and all associated software. The associated software comprises application software or firmware, system software, and computer system supporting documentation. ... 

The state-of-the-art laboratories are equipped with the latest models of analytical instruments and computer systems, while others may have older, less sophisticated equipment or a mix of modern and outdated instruments. The goal of production laboratories is to analyze samples in the fastest possible manner. To be competitive, laboratories must have fully automated analytical systems allowing unattended sequential analysis of samples and computerized output of analytical results. Data acquisition computers, programmed with specialty software, control analytical instruments, collect the raw data, and convert them into analytical results. These computers are typically interfaced with the LIMS, which networks different laboratory sections into a single computer system and transforms analytical results into laboratory reports. 

Part 11 regarding validation of computer software and hardware. Any software used to operate process equipment, generate electronic records, track and transmit laboratory data, automate quality systems, operate critical utilities or software that is itself a medical device must be validated to ensure accuracy, reliability, consistency, and the ability to discern invalid or altered records. Where off-the-shelf software is used for any of the above cGMP activities, it must also be validated for its intended use. For additional information on compliance issues related to computer hardware and software validation refer to Chap. 7 of this book. 

EU publishes GMP for Medicinal Products, which include computer system expectations 1995 U.S. EPA releases final version of Good Automated Laboratory Practice... 

There are inevitable interfaces between the application areas of the various sets of procedures and the computer systems to which they apply, as indicated in Figure 3.3. Client-server technology is typically the deciding factor in determining whether control system and laboratory application projects would be better served by IT system procedures. Another example might be that robotic systems used to automate laboratories would be better served by control system procedures. 

A backup file of data entered into the computer or related system shall be maintained except where certain data, such as calculations performed in connection with laboratory analysis, are eliminated by computerization or other automated processes. ... 

Thus several of these researchers have begun to think about designing process-oriented healthcare information systems that adjust naturally to changes in resources and organizational structures. Computer-interpretable models based on clinical workflows have already been implemented within the context of specific different fields, such as stroke and cancer therapy. A snapshot of part of an automated laboratory workflow is in Table 7.1.2 These authors as well as others have considered special kinds of networks for healthcare workflow that issue simple reminders and serve as an organizer in a healthcare office environment in which duties are widely shared. 

Figure 19.2. Resource exploitation in automated laboratories The different resources (gray boxes) can be used by either automated systems (yellow area) or laboratory personnel (blue area).The process of laboratory work-procedures can be managed by the means of computer technology (information logistics) as well as automation technology (sample logistics).

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