Veterinary LIMS improves laboratory efficiency

The North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (NDSU VDL) has recently implemented the Matrix Gemini Veterinary LIMS from Autoscribe Informatics, which has eliminated the vast majority of in-lab paperwork, improved sample tracking and enhanced efficiency. This means the lab can provide results quickly and effectively to its clients, thus providing a more streamlined service for veterinarians, animal producers and the public health sector across North Dakota, South Dakota and Western Minnesota.

The NDSU VDL offers various diagnostic services, including toxicology, bacteriology, virology, molecular diagnostics, pathology, parasitology and serology. As an American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) accredited laboratory, NDSU VDL provides critical support to veterinarians, animal producers and public health officials to ensure the health and wellbeing of national herds, companion animals and wildlife.

Before the implementation of Matrix Gemini, NDSU VDL was grappling with several challenges posed by its prior LIMS system, which was causing inefficiencies and bottlenecks due to the significant time required for maintenance and updates. The need for a modern, configurable system to manage the complexities of veterinary diagnostics (including antibiotic susceptibility testing) and support the lab’s high-volume operations was evident, with the Matrix Gemini LIMS chosen as the solution.

The introduction of the new LIMS has since transformed laboratory operations, enabling a nearly paperless workflow and interfacing seamlessly with key analytical instruments to enhance data accuracy and reduce manual data entry. Key benefits include a 90% reduction in paper usage, improved sample tracking and seamless integration with vital analytical instruments. This has led to more efficient operations, faster result turnaround times and enhanced reporting accuracy.

The web portal feature has benefited local veterinarians, allowing real-time access to test results and improving patient care. The system’s configurability also allows NDSU VDL to adapt quickly to evolving business needs without waiting for vendor updates.

“Laboratory needs are always dynamic, so it is great we can add fields and make changes ourselves, without waiting for the LIMS vendor to release another version of the software or make the changes for us,” the LIMS administrator said.

According to Autoscribe Informatics, the success of Matrix Gemini LIMS at NDSU VDL is a testament to the effectiveness of the system in addressing the complex needs of veterinary diagnostic laboratories.