ISO 151892007-Implementation in a Laboratory Information System

Background

Laboratory automation has been propelled during the last 10 year by the advantages of greater productivity, lower cost and the capacity of integration with modern instrumental equipment, which connect to a laboratory intranet (Westbrook et al., 2008; Vacata et al., 2007). Laboratory information systems provide better functionality through automation in parts of the inspection procedures, permitting the lab to achieve maximum efficiency (Westbrook et al., 2008; Vacata et al, 2007). Laboratory information systems also improve service to physicians and other stakeholders and ultimately reduce the probability of human errors. It is widely accepted that error-prone activities can be substantially reduced, but not eliminated. However, information technology systems can provide reasonable, accurate, and reliable standardized procedures of quality control for the assessment procedure as well as sophisticated quality indices for all the control system of the medical laboratory (Westbrook et al., 2008; Vacata et al., 2007). Medical laboratory computers may be used in many ways. They may be used for preparing and administering the management handbook and standard operation procedures, for personnel training, for providing and archiving documents via intranet. The laboratory computers may also be used for creating customer databases, for evaluating test results, for connecting via the Internet with external sources of information and for contacting with customers, or as a typewriter. A computing system contains at least one computer, some peripheral devices and some software products. Moreover, computing systems operating parameters require custom verification and validation.