Driving Workflow Through Process Automation
Obtaining high accuracy and precision is essential in a lab setting, but it can often be difficult to achieve due to the large volume of procedures that scientists must undertake daily. These repetitive tasks can result in errors, wasted materials, or loss of time. Using automation scheduling software for laboratories, such as the programs provided by Retisoft, can remove these issues to enhance work efficiency in the lab.
By using lab automation software, a number of areas can be improved.
Computer systems are less prone to errors. Automation programs will provide high-quality output data provided the input data is free of error. This leads to higher accuracy with test results, samples, and batch analyses.
The ability to produce the same results in consecutive testing by using the same materials and methods is key to providing reliable research data. However, manually undertaking tasks introduce risks of human error. There may also be differences in technique and pipetting accuracy between the individual scientists within the lab, which can reduce the replicability of results.
Automating a number of procedures can increase replicability by removing the risk of error and reducing variation in results caused by human differences. It ensures consistency across data sets by standardizing all procedures and tasks.
For example, an assay that requires precise amounts of raw material can be more easily replicated using an automated system that dispenses exact volumes with every cycle. This way, the assay is performed in exactly the same way every time, removing difficulties with replication and reliability.
Taking a procedure and replicating it in another lab to produce similar results is key to success within scientific research. It ensures high reliability and consistency from one lab to another and confirms whether or not the data that has been collected is accurate.
Labs can share procedures digitally or via hard copy. These protocols can often be subject to interpretation, which decreases their reproducibility from execution to results. Using software for laboratories that automate this system can standardize the process for sharing lab protocols. They can be created once, and run in exactly the same way every time, regardless of which lab and which scientists are using them.
The ability to share results is another key component of scientific research. Once data has been collected, reviewed, and analyzed, it needs to be easily shared with others to contribute to significant scientific discovery. There is currently no standardized way to share scientific data in journals and publications. However, lab automation software can make this sharing process much simpler and quicker. It provides a standard format for all scientists to use, removing individual variances between different lab programs. This common platform brings lab employees together from all over the world to spread their knowledge and expertise.
