LABORATORY INFORMATICS

LabAnswers script ensured that the selected vendors demonstrated the functionality required by the water authority.

 

$250,000 Saved in Specifying and Purchasing a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

Business and Technology Goals

Assist the laboratory in specifying and purchasing a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

Solution

LabAnswer performed a comprehensive needs assessment for the water authority that included interviewing laboratory staff, operational personnel, IT staff and end users of laboratory data. LabAnswer reviewed and evaluated all aspects of the laboratory operations and the water authority enterprise needs and requirements. LabAnswer delivered the water authority’s needs assessment documents in three separate parts – technical specifications, functional specifications, and enterprise specifications – which were later included as the specifications portion of the the water authority LIMS RFP. The document included information concerning implementation timelines required, data migration requirements from their existing in-house built LIMS, hardware infrastructure and software operating environments, instrument and enterprise integration requirements, support requirements/warranties, reporting, etc.

LabAnswer evaluated the LIMS vendor market and compared the the water authority needs documents to the products and vendors available in the industry. LabAnswer provided the water authority with a short list of potential vendors to evaluate for further review. The list contained product capabilities, available functionality, operating systems and databases used, and a list of known customers for each vendor.

LabAnswer prepared a vendor demonstration script was followed by vendors selected for this phase. The script ensured that the selected vendors demonstrated – in the same order – the functionality required by the water authority.

Benefits

The authority chose the most appropriate LIMS for their operations and saved over $250,000 without sacrificing any desired functionality. LabAnswer negotiated a contract with the selected vendor and was responsible for the reduction in the initial proposed cost of the LIMS.