Adrian Procter

BI Specialist

Laboratory Information Management System

The Laboratory Information Management System (or LIMS) was written using Paradox for DOS. This system was designed for the testing laboratory to enter data into the information management system, and then prepare reports automatically from the results.

Before this system was in place, the reporting system was entered into an old, unsupported system, where the user had to choose the report output they wanted. There were no checks of any kind anywhere.

This new system, once implemented, was able to decide what tests needed to be done, based on the sample being tested. In addition, it automatically chose the correct report to be produced. This report was written in Crystal Reports, and consolidated some 30 different types of report into just one report. It also featured change tracking, so I was able to create log files and audit history.

When I left the organization, this was being used 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, by 20 staff, and it was still in use some 6 years later.