Differences Between Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Laboratory Information Systems (LIS)

Clinical and reference labs and pathology practices handle vast amounts of data related to the specimens they process. Patient health records include diverse information related to medical history, blood work, image scans, lab reports, and prescriptions, which need to be systematically recorded to support clinical lab workflow and securely manage patient data. If the medical laboratory is to draw evidence-based clinical insights from these data, the information needs to be organized and accessible. 

Laboratory Information Systems, also known as LIS Systems or LIS in healthcare, and Laboratory Information Management Systems, also known as LIMS, are two types of pathology lab reporting software solutions that help manage and organize this data. LIS software is most often deployed within a clinical setting (independent laboratory or hospital lab) to manage patient-centric data. LIMS software, on the other hand, is generally sample-centric. It is designed for analytical laboratory settings such as food manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and non-clinical testing environments.

A note before we dive deeper. While lab information systems (LIS) and laboratory information management systems (LIMS) have different technical meanings, these terms are often used interchangeably in the laboratory world. In this article, we will treat them differently, meaning as LIS vs LIMS based on their original definitions even though not everyone draws these distinctions between them.

LIS vs LIMS: Comparing Laboratory Software Systems

For any lab to process more than 100 cases per day, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) or a laboratory information system (LIS system) is a must. These laboratory software systems enable mid-to-large-scale laboratories to leverage technology to run efficiently and scale their operations.

Put simply, a robust LIMS or LIS system has the power to unlock bottlenecks and barriers that otherwise would keep an organization from growing.

Lab information systems and laboratory information management systems are two distinct diagnostic lab software. Both improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by structuring the process of data collection, testing, diagnosis, and treatment. Both laboratory software systems also reduce the amount of time spent in recovering data and decrease transcription errors. 

While both laboratory software systems represent pathology lab management solutions for streamlining patient data, they differ in their purpose, based on a particular lab’s needs. The lab information system focuses on patient information and test results, while the laboratory information management system focuses on test samples. For example, a patient’s medical history, demographics, test results, disease diagnosis, and treatment are processed by a laboratory information system.

What is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)? 

‍LIMS is software that allows facilities to efficiently manage samples and their associated data. This enables a lab to automate workflows, produce reliable results, and track samples. A lab information management system generates vast amounts of data that help a lab cope with this both efficiently and with a modern approach. 

For example, a pathology LIMS lab management software would support data entries for tissue samples, sample processing in the laboratory, the capturing of data such as images or screens, and the analyzing of data for insights. LIMS lab management software thus involves multiple points for data recording and structuring. 

A laboratory information management system is widely used in various regulated industries because it supports laboratory workflow management while adhering to set regulations.  

Benefits of a Laboratory Information Management System

The best LIMS lab information management systems help laboratories with quality assurance and quality control. Besides individual sample management, they also enable batch tracking. Industries like food and pharmaceutical manufacturing are required to maintain certain quality standards prescribed under the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). The use of lab information management systems LIMS ensures that the labs can stick to the standards set by the GMP code. With the help of LIMS software, laboratories can handle complex data systems without any scope for errors. The best LIMS can be integrated with other business solutions for more competent data handling. 

With the rapid advancement of technology, clinical laboratory information management systems LIMS have adapted to improve lab performance by automating clinical laboratory workflow, integrating analytical instruments, and standardizing data outputs. With a modern laboratory information management system, laboratory staff can track data over time and provide retrospective solutions that improve workflow efficiencies.    

LIMS data management is an increasingly central component in labs due to the volume of data generated in lab environments. Without innovative automation solutions within the sample workflow, tests could be backlogged over long periods, potentially delaying the whole process. 

The advantages of a laboratory information management system in a lab include the ability to track reagents and procure resources promptly. Once processes are implemented within the laboratory software system, this also generates data, which can be used to restructure SOPs if required. This data is especially useful for bench workers and lab staff, who can use it to find faster solutions, redesign experimental setups, innovate workflows, and reuse components of the laboratory information management system that demonstrate efficient performance.

Challenges Confronting LIMS Lab Management Software

In some cases, a lab information management system can be considered difficult to install and maintain. Also, no matter the lab LIMS, personnel need to be trained in how to use and leverage the laboratory software system to improve laboratory workflow management. Even with a basic laboratory information management system, employees who are not acquainted with the LIMS software may build illogical workflows that prolong the time spent on the bench. 

Buying LIMS Lab Management Software from LIMS Vendors

LIMS vendors sell LIMS lab management software that can structure large volumes of data and then streamline it for customer use and understanding. Numerous laboratory information management system companies offer services that enable seamless tracking of a specimen (sample) throughout its processing workflow. This facet is an important metric for the performance of the LIMS software in a laboratory.

What is Laboratory Information System Software (LIS)?

While a laboratory information management system manages the processing of test samples and captures data within the laboratory, a laboratory information system focuses on collecting, processing, storing, and managing patient information and results from their clinical examination. It is a clinical lab workflow management solution that manages patient and sample data. Doctors and lab technicians use these LIS systems to synchronize types of patient medical tests, for instance, blood tests.

There is an overlap between the functionalities of LIS software and lab LIMS software, which pivots on the interface between the bench and clinical setting. LIS systems maintain patient data in a database that enables quick retrieval and correlation of a patient’s test results with their diagnoses and treatment. 

Laboratory Information System (LIS) Benefits

Examples of laboratory information systems that streamline processes related to patient data include areas of data sharing and cross-referencing. For instance, a lab information system enables secure data sharing with public healthcare enterprises, to inform clinical decisions. When incorporated with a hospital’s electronic health record (EHR) system, which is a standardized patient record-filing system, the lab information system manages patient tracking and correctly cross-references a patient with his or her lab tests.

Basic LIS model software solutions, therefore, eliminate errors in the interchange between a clinical setting and the lab, through automated annotation of data points. If a doctor orders blood work for a patient, for example, they use a code to indicate which tests need to be performed. The LIS system then matches this code with the lab’s specimen to ensure that the test is performed correctly for that particular sample. 

Buying a Laboratory Information System from LIS Software Vendors

Modern LIS systems streamline and automate processes, creating leaner, more accurate, scalable, and more efficient operations while providing complete visibility into core business processes. 

The best LIS systems can manage all departments and operations (including financial operations) with no data silos and no synchronization of master files (clients, tests, physicians, insurance, pricing, etc). They also eliminate human errors and lost specimens with error-free specimen tracking, maximize efficiency and connectivity with engines that support rules, automation, and interoperability, improve turnaround times with intuitive designs that minimize the need for clicks and support macros, enable the creation of customizable lab reports and the delivery of these reports in multiple ways to cater to client preferences, support remote access for orders and results retrieval, provide valuable real-time business analytics, and minimize risk with compliance verification at every stage.

LIS vs LIMS: Conclusion

In the debate over LIS vs LIMS, one thing is certain. LIS and LIMS software solutions are crucial tools to support laboratory workflow management. These laboratory software systems do overlap in some functionalities but differ in their applications. The LIS system is a cross-referencing, data retrieval, recording, and data storage application that can be integrated with an EHR and other third-party solutions (for example billing software) to accelerate clinical insights and operations. The laboratory information management system, on the other hand, is a functional tool that manages specimen samples, tests, results, and tracking typically at a much larger scale. 

These laboratory information system services thus power the machinery of data collection and analysis in healthcare. By implementing the best laboratory information management system or best laboratory information system for their specific needs, laboratories can improve their accuracy and efficiency and service a broad spectrum of clients in need of a partner that can handle large numbers of samples and complex data sets.