The importance of interoperability: LIMS and quality management in forensics
Aaron Hoare 
Date published: Apr 28, 23
Interoperability: when various systems, applications, devices or products communicate and coordinate with each other with a bare minimum of action required from the user.
You have probably worked in numerous settings in your career where you’ve experienced the frustration of having to work with multiple digital tools that simply do not work well together. You’re then stuck spending a large portion of your time going back and forth between tasks, sets of data, and even pieces of equipment. The result? You are left wondering why these tools can’t have been built to work together properly in the first place.
And there are some great tools out there, too. Forensic Advantage[1] and JusticeTrax[2] are just two examples of effective software solutions being used in labs all over the world to deliver accurate, timely results in forensics. But you can still often end up questioning why such valuable tools can’t work more effectively with other software.
n this article, we’re going to talk in brief about the benefits of system interoperability in a modern forensics lab, particularly between Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and quality management systems (QMS).
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Read moreWhy should forensic labs look for interoperable systems?
Particularly in a forensics lab, there is an imperative to strike an effective balance between accuracy and speed. Both accuracy AND speed should be the goal, but ideally not at the expense of the other. And in a field such as forensics, where outcomes have high stakes, it is often accuracy that is favored of the two, and processes can end up being slow.
One barrier on the road towards generating faster results – while still ensuring a high level of accuracy – that we hear about all the time is the lack of interoperability between essential software in forensics labs.
Interoperable software, for example a seamless relationship between your LIMS and quality management system, has many benefits. Not least, the ability for two systems to work together gives your lab the ability to streamline and simplify data entry and collection. This saves everyone in your lab time and enables better data sharing, allowing you to focus on the meaningful work your lab carries out rather than burdensome administrative tasks.
Having two sources collecting data on different but inherently linked insights into your lab also has many benefits, allowing your lab to visualize key evidence, make accurate analysis, and improve critical processes. With truly interoperable systems, you can even create workflows across these different systems. These streamlined workflows allow your forensics labs to operate at maximum efficiency.
In short, all forensic labs need an effective LIMS, and the most effective forensic labs also use powerful quality management software to ensure they are compliant with key industry regulations. Shouldn’t finding a LIMS and a QMS that work together seamlessly, therefore, be a priority?
Interoperable systems from Ideagen
Ideagen QMS offers an all-inclusive solution that our customers use to streamline and maintain their laboratory accreditations and certifications. Our solutions have been tried and tested in many laboratories throughout the United States and are proven to be the perfect tool for their compliance and accreditation requirements.
Even better, Ideagen QMS has partnerships with Forensic Advantage and JusticeTrax. These systems are considered to be interoperable with Ideagen QMS. This means that if your lab uses these essential industry tools, you can rest assured that Ideagen QMS will work seamlessly in co-operation. We are therefore trusted by many forensics labs to protect quality because our software works harmoniously with other aspects of an effective LIMS.
Want to learn more about what an asset Ideagen QMS can be for your forensics lab? Book a conversation with our team today so we can find the perfect-fit QMS solution for your circumstances.
Alternatively, watch how Pinellas County Forensic lab use our solutions to simplify and improve their operations.
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[1] Forensic Advantage - https://caliberpublicsafety.com/forensic-advantage/
[2] JusticeTrax - JusticeTrax and Qualtrax Integration – JusticeTrax