LIMS: Your Secret Weapon to Regulatory Compliance

Today’s LIMS provide laboratories with functionality that extends well beyond sample tracking, data entry and reporting. A modern LIMS is your Secret Weapon to Regulatory Compliance. We will review a checklist of LIMS capabilities that are specifically designed to ensure regulatory and industry compliance, and meeting the key requirements for ISO 17025:2017 accreditation. This includes the growing importance of documenting full traceability in sample testing (including standards, supplies, equipment, and staff). Today’s Laboratories are challenged by more and more Regulatory Requirements, this is especially true of regulated labs that need to achieve and maintain certain governmental and industry standards in their testing methods and reporting. Typical examples of regulatory bodies include the EPA, FDA, and a variety of state and local government agencies. There are also a number of standards bodies responsible for accreditation/certification including ISO and industry organizations such as the NELAC Institute in the environmental sector. Often laboratories may need to meet the requirements of several different agencies or organizations, and a LIMS is an ideal tool to track these requirements and allow the lab to analyze samples with the appropriate requirements being followed, and report.