Links for LIMS

Links for LIMS™ is a complete software package from CSols designed to integrate instruments and analysers of any type with any Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). It is used across a wide range of laboratory environments, including clinical, forensic, environmental, food, materials, oil & gas, government, and chemical sectors. By automating the data flow between instruments and LIMS, Links for LIMS eliminates manual transcription errors, reduces processing time, and ensures SOP compliance throughout the analytical workflow.

The software addresses a common productivity bottleneck in analytical laboratories: the manual handling of data leading to and from instruments. By automating these processes, Links for LIMS enables laboratories to maximise their investment in instruments and analysers while improving both efficiency and data quality.

Key Capabilities

• Easy installation and configuration: A large library of off-the-shelf instrument driver modules means Links for LIMS can be installed and configured without coding.
• Integrated user interface: Users have full control over operation with clear visibility of sample data required for instrument setup, results review, and workflow control. Results are checked locally for quality before submission, eliminating blind uploads and reducing the risk of releasing incorrect results.
• One-stop operation: Links for LIMS consolidates the instrument workflow, allowing users to dispense with third-party tools such as Excel, Python, or custom scripting, resulting in significant time savings compared to manual transcription and file processing.
• Integrated calculations: The software handles dilutions, weight handling, duplicates, and factors covering injection adjustments and recoveries, and can be easily configured to add further calculations or logic functions.
• Flagging and AQC checks: During result processing, Links for LIMS captures all relevant data — not limited to concentration data — and automatically performs a configurable range of limit checks, including detection and AQC limit checks.
• Any instrument type: Links for LIMS is compatible with instruments and analysers of all types, from balances and simple UV spectrometers to high-value mass spectrometers and liquid handling robots.
• Single-shot instrument support: For balances or simple single-sample instruments, Links for LIMS uses capture drivers matched to the communication protocols and cabling in use.
• Any LIMS or no LIMS: The software works with any LIMS or, where no LIMS is in place, with Excel. Communication options include simple or secure file transfer (FTP, SFTP), direct query (SQL), ASTM 1394, and web services.

Challenges Links for LIMS Addresses

• LIMS access and connectivity: Every LIMS has a different design and infrastructure, often targeted at specific markets. Links for LIMS provides a wide range of off-the-shelf LIMS drivers designed for specific systems, standard protocols, APIs, standard data transfer processes, or web services, enabling rapid bidirectional data exchange with the LIMS.
• Instrument and analyser data connectivity: Where instruments do not have PC-based applications or use proprietary file formats, Links for LIMS provides data capture drivers for serial, USB, or Ethernet-connected instruments, as well as specific file conversion drivers for non-readable formats.
• Matching SOPs and laboratory workflows: Once data flow is established, Links for LIMS can be quickly configured to closely match each laboratory's unique workflows, including nomenclature, sample volumes and types, run sequence layouts, QC positions, dilution handling, duplicate runs, and reportable result calculations. This is where the major productivity and quality benefits of the software are realised.

Features and Benefits

• Significant time savings for all users — for example, up to 70% time savings for ICP-MS workflows
• Consistent, easy-to-use interface that looks the same across all instrument types
• Bidirectional LIMS connection — extracts sample data from the LIMS and sends instrument results back to the LIMS
• Eliminates all transcription errors from data transfer
• Ensures SOP compliance in relation to data handling
• QC results checked against target values and flagged before reporting
• Automated calculations including unit conversions, blank corrections, and drift corrections
• Configurable output for decimal places or significant figures to meet laboratory requirements
• Spreadsheet-style data view allows analysts to quickly assess run quality and identify issues prior to submission
• Results are never sent to the LIMS without explicit analyst authorisation
• Can be deployed across the whole laboratory, linking multiple instruments and LIMS systems

Links for LIMS is developed and supported by CSols Ltd., based in Runcorn, Cheshire, UK. The software supports laboratories in meeting traceability requirements and regulatory or external assessment obligations, and CSols offers demonstrations and configuration support to help laboratories achieve compliance and operational efficiency.