How to reduce laboratory costs, turnaround times, improve results quality and increase analytical throughput.

CSols laboratory informatics solutions enable our clients to achieve all of the above and readily meet increasing regulatory requirements, improve speed and traceability of remote sampling, track chain of custody with a comprehensive audit trail, simplify environmental compliance management and improve analytical performance. CSols staff have worked in laboratories and realize the significance that small functional changes in software can make and so ensure that our solutions meet the day to day requirements of your laboratories.

Routine Analytical Quality Control
The most effective way of monitoring an Instrument’s performance is to regularly use Analytical Quality Control (AQC) samples with independently verified or known results. Once placed in instrument runs at regular intervals they can be used to flag discrete changes in instrument performance leading to over or under reporting of result values. While simple flagging against a target value is straightforward, the tools used to identify trends use specific statistical calculations and chart types. Ideally analysts want to be able to do perform this statistical analysis and chart data :

• when instrument runs complete so that the AQCs can be correctly evaluated before releasing all results
• on the instrument workstation so there is no need to export and transfer the AQC results to a separate workstation
• easily without having to navigate functions not relevant to the AQC analysis
• record all data and any decisions taken during the interpretation for auditing and for further analysis.

In order to address these requirements CSols have developed a dedicated software tool for AQC analysis called AqcTools.
 
External / Remote Sampling
CSols Remote Sampler ruggedized handheld computer solution, widely used in the UK & European Water Industries, was specifically developed for external sample collection in response to the overwhelming need to:

• simplify and reduce the costs of sample collection
• provide a paperless trail of custody with full audit control throughout the life of the sample to meet regulatory requirements e.g. UK Drinking Water Inspectorate (Water), Food Standards Agency , and to
• take full advantage of those highly automated systems like LIMS already in place in laboratories

Microbiological Testing
Microbiological analysis is an extremely common technique used in many industries but is especially important in the Water, Public Health and Food sectors. Except in very high throughput situations, most of the analysis work is carried out completely manually and data handling uses paper worksheets. Driven by the overwhelming need to:-

• reduce the high rates of transcription errors and increase the consistency of data treatment
• help meet analysis deadlines by reducing the average laboratory turnaround times, and
• increase the level of sample traceability and auditability across the whole analysis process to
meet regulatory requirements e.g. UKAS, MCERTS, DWI, ISO 17025 and national / international regulations.

CSols developed the BactiAnalyst microbiological testing ruggedized handheld computing solution to meet the above requirements.

Further Information
To discuss reducing your costs and turnaround times, improving your results quality and increasing your analytical throughput then please email: iet_enquiry@csols.com