Journal:Development of a smart laboratory information management system: A case study of NM-AIST Arusha of Tanzania

Full article title	Development of a smart laboratory information management system: A case study of NM-AIST Arusha of Tanzania
Journal	International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering
Author(s)	Mwambe, Edson; Wangere, Joseph N.; Flavian, Daudi; Sinde, Ramadhani
Author affiliation(s)	Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
Primary contact	Email: mwambee at nm-aist dot ac dot tz
Year published	2022
Volume and issue	8(4)
Page(s)	1–14
DOI	10.31695/IJASRE.2022.8.4.1
ISSN	2454-8006
Distribution license	Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Website	https://ijasre.net/index.php/ijasre/article/view/1500
Download	https://ijasre.net/index.php/ijasre/article/view/1500/1921 (PDF)

Abstract

Testing laboratories in higher learning institutions of science, technology, and engineering are used by institutional staff, researchers, and external stakeholders in conducting research experiments, sample analysis, and result dissemination. However, there exists a challenge in the management of laboratory operations and processing of laboratory-based data. Operations carried out in the laboratory at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), in Arusha, Tanzania—where this case study was carried out—are paper-based. There is no automated way of sample registration and identification, and researchers are prone to making errors when handling sensitive reagents. Users have to physically visit the laboratory to enquire about available equipment or reagents before borrowing or reserving those resources. Additionally, paper-based forms have to be filled out and handed to the laboratory manager for approval. These manual operations make it difficult to keep track of expiry dates of reagents, stock remaining, storage conditions, software licenses, tools, and data regarding borrowed equipment, as these facets lack automated notification mechanisms.

This study, therefore, was carried out to investigate the development of a smart laboratory information management system (LIMS) integrated with internet of things (IoT) devices, a wireless sensor network (WSN), and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for real-time monitoring of sample and reagents storage conditions, as well as digital sample identification and tracking. A web application was developed to allow remote access to laboratory information by users. Based on the performance test, it is concluded that WSNs can be integrated with IoT devices to automate recurring tasks in laboratories, aid in monitoring, and eliminate paper-based record keeping.

Keywords: radio frequency identification, wireless sensor network, internet of things, MQTT, ZigBee protocol, ThingSpeak, laboratory information management system

Introduction

Background

Higher learning institutions of science, technology, and engineering conduct experiments in testing laboratories. According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, a laboratory is a building or a part of a building or any other place set aside and equipped for conducting scientific experiments or investigations, in order to develop new products. These testing laboratories are accessible to institutional staff, researchers, and external stakeholders. The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), based in East Africa (Arusha, Tanzania), has one such testing laboratory that is subdivided into three subsections. Each subsection deals with a different thematic research focus area and is led by a section head. The flow of information in testing laboratories is complex, from sample registration to assigning the sample to an analyst, recording the sample results for each parameter tested, and relaying the results back to the client or researcher. Conventional paper-based approaches for recording all this information are not efficient. A lot of time is bound to be wasted following up on paperwork, and crucial details might be missed or lost in the process. There is therefore a need to aggregate laboratory information on a single platform that can be accessed remotely in order to guarantee real-time access of laboratory data, as well as automate manual processes to increase efficiency, speed, and accuracy. This study therefore proposes a web-based smart laboratory information management system (LIMS) integrated with wireless sensor network (WSN) technology, internet of things (IoT) devices, and radio frequency identification (RFID) to streamline laboratory operations and consolidate all data on a single platform for easy accessibility and tracking.

Problem statement

There exists a challenge in the management of most testing laboratories, in that operations are carried out manually. There is no established mechanism of sample identification, and researchers are prone to making errors when handling sensitive reagents. If users need to borrow laboratory equipment, they have to physically visit the laboratory office, enquire about the availability of equipment, and manually fill out a paper-based form before handing it to the laboratory manager for approval. Due to such manual operations, it is difficult to keep track of expiry dates of reagents, remaining stock, software licenses, tools, data regarding borrowed items, and more. It is therefore in light of the aforementioned setbacks that this study was carried out to investigate the development of a smart LIMS to automate processes in testing laboratories, enabling researchers to plan activities.

Objectives and research questions

The main objective of this research was to investigate the development of a smart LIMS. The specific objectives were:

1. Determine and gather requirements for the design and development of a smart LIMS.
2. Design and develop a smart LIMS based on those requirements.
3. Validate the developed system.

A series of research questions tie into those objectives:

1. What are the requirements for developing a smart LIMS?
2. How should the smart LIMS be designed and developed?
3. How will the study ensure the developed system meets the specified user requirements?

Conceptual framework

Figure 1 below represents a conceptual framework model that guided the development of the smart LIMS. A web application links an IoT module and inventory module to different user categories, e.g., researchers and laboratory staff.

Figure 1. Conceptual framework for a smart laboratory information management system

Significance of the study

The implementation of the system is significant in the following outlined aspects:

• Reduction of overhead in the reporting and management processes within laboratories
• Enabling of a central database of all laboratory data in order to digitize operations
• Minimizing operational costs of the laboratory
• Facilitating enforcement of laboratory policies, rules, and standard operating procedures
• Facilitating appropriate and timely calibration of laboratory instruments
• Easy monitoring of inventory, including equipment, samples, supplies, and reagents

Notes

This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation. Some grammar and punctuation was cleaned up to improve readability. In some cases important information was missing from the references, and that information was added.