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Storage and management of data in the laboratory
Assignment brief breakdown
Assignment 3
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Assignment brief breakdown
Scenario:
You are the head ICT technician within Brunel University. You have recently identified weaknesses within the science
department in response to their data storage. It is your job to devise a proposal for updating storage procedures in a
laboratory and explain the importance of confidentiality and security in regard to this data.
Task 1
Group: Research the ways of storing data in a laboratory setting including the use of computers: This is
your PowerPoint presentation.
Individual: Generate a report, that explains what types of scientific information are stored in a
laboratory information management system (LIMS).
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Explain how scientific data and records are stored. Use your PowerPoint as a reference but develop
it further to include additional key details that you may have missed.
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Include key notes on the data protection act and why it is important in terms of security and
confidentiality in a digital file storage system (LIMS) and the potential threats of such a system.
Task 2
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Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of keeping data and records in a LIMS. This should be
completed in the form of a comparison table.
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Write a clear conclusion that identifies whether you feel a system like LIMS is secure and
confidential, and what could be done to improve it.
Please complete this in your books so it can be marked before you hand it in
officially.
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Reasons to keep data
Type of data
Reason to keep the data
who can: record, access and alter?
COSHH records
Ensure awareness of H&S issues with substances
Technicians and who ever orders or stores the substances
within the organisation
Scientific data
Vital to keep and retrieve data generated.
HOD, deputies. And scientists/students working in the lab
Scientific apparatus
Ensure equipment is calibrated, maintenance data
and schedules
HOD, deputies. And scientists/students working in the lab
Waste disposal
Show how much waste is produced and therefore
disposed of
Those involved with disposal (technicians) HOD may need
to authorise costs
Health and safety
checks
Demonstrate the monitoring of H&S and hold
accident reports if necessary
HOD< health and safety officers
Training records
Know the level of training or qualification of staff,
keep and maintain records
Training offer, HOD, supervisors, human resources,
finance, members of staff.
Quality assurance
Quality procedure being carried out – checking and
rechecking (audit)
HOD, QA’s,
Report records
Patient tests, hospital records,
Office support personnel will usually be responsible for
electronically recording results
Specification levels
Prove that the organisation is only working at a
certain level. E.g. the danger of microorganisms in
use.
HOD
Sample throughput
Number of samples going through processes in the
lab in a given tine. Indicator of effectiveness
HOD, deputies. management
management
Facilitate management decisions e.g. actions if
deadlines are missed.
Management, HR
Security
Who accessed the lab/equipment and when.
HOD, Security staff, technicians, H&S staff and general
floor staff who gain lab access
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Connection to LIMS
LIMS is a program designed to consolidate a method of storing all this data. It is a central
system/database that organises and encrypts all data to ensure its safety and security.
A similar program that does this in teaching is SIMS. (schools information management system)
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Advantages and Disadvantages of
data storage
Type of data
COSHH records
Scientific data
Scientific apparatus
Waste disposal
Health and safety
checks
Training records
Quality assurance
Report records
Specification levels
Sample throughput
management
Security
Advantage of storage
Disadvantage of storage
Advantages and Disadvantages of
LIMS
Storage type
LIMS database system
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Advantage of LIMS
Disadvantage of LIMS