4-in-1-LIMS @ IRRI [International Rice Research Inst., Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines] : the present and the future

Advances in information technology and computer science are already being used to expedite the operations in modern-day laboratories. A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is a software interface and database system that is used to support operations in laboratories by managing information on samples, equipment, storage locations, workflows, and protocols. A web-based LIMS with cloud storage, the Biotracker software as a service LIMS (http://lims2.ocimumbio.com), is currently being customized by Ocimum Biosolutions to meet the needs of four labs at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), namely the Genetic Transformation Laboratory, Grain Quality and Nutrition Center, Molecular Marker Applications Laboratory, and Seed Health Unit. The LIMS will increase the efficiency of service requests, data management, sample tracking, and supply chain inventories. Customers will also be able to log-in online to their accounts to make service requests, for example to run markers on their samples using the Genotyping Services Lab at IRRI. Likewise, each laboratory will have the ability to keep an updated inventory of reagents and supplies, track germplasm, process, share, and store data through the system. One can also create barcodes and print barcode labels through the LIMS, which makes the process of sample tracking easier. The Biotracker LIMS was further interfaced with the International Rice Information System (IRIS) and the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) applications for IRRI which allows a robust transfer of information and MTA status tracking for generation, publishing and reporting of SMTA records to support IRRI's compliance with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. On a larger scale, LIMS is already being incorporated with the existing service workflows and pipelines of the four laboratories involved. Ultimately, the LIMS will help increase the efficiency and quality assurance of handling large numbers of samples across the different labs at the Institute.