IRSST and LabPlus: centralizing and automating laboratory information management
TheIRSST (Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail) is a Québec-based Canadian organization dedicated to workplace health and safety research. The IRSST Laboratories offer environmental, toxicological and microbiological analysis services for occupational health and safety (OHS) prevention activities.
What were the challenges or issues faced by the IRSST prior to this project?
Prior to the project, the IRSST was facing a number of challenges related to laboratory data management in its five departments. Decentralized information management was leading to inefficiencies, a lack of coordination and a slowdown in productivity.
The organization was faced with issues such as system usability, report management, sample analysis and quality control. Data security was also a crucial issue in an occupational health and safety research context.
How has LabPlus helped solve these challenges?
LabPlus has been deployed in all five IRSST departments to centralize the management of laboratory information. Its flexibility meant that it could be configured to suit specific requirements.
The system helped to automate processes, improving the efficiency and speed of sample management, from receipt to final analysis. The interfacing of multiple laboratory instruments was configured to facilitate automatic data transfer and reduce human error. In addition, LabPlus enabled simplified report management, while ensuring rigorous quality control and enhanced data security.
What results have been observed since the implementation of LabPlus?
Since implementing LabPlus, the IRSST has seen a significant improvement in laboratory data management. Process automation has increased productivity and reduced sample processing time. The centralization of information has enabled better coordination between departments, facilitating data analysis and interpretation. Reports and dashboards enabled more precise monitoring of operations. In addition to ensuring optimum data security, LabPlus contributed to more rigorous quality control, reinforcing the reliability of analyses carried out by IRSST laboratories.
