Recipient Organization
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CORVALLIS,OR 97331
Performing Department
VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY
Non Technical Summary
The current Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) LIMS, VisuaLab, no longer receives adequate technical support or updates from the manufacturer, putting the integrity and reliability of our IT capabilities in considerable jeopardy. The negative impact on our NAHLN activity is obvious. As indicated in the prior year's report, our intent is to abandon VisuaLab in favor of a more robust LIMS capable of meeting current and future NAHLN requirements and obligations. Furthermore, we are searching for a LIMS that is supported by an equally robust company that will be committed and able to provide long-term support and enhancements. Therefore, to date, NAHLN funds have only been used for essential physical plant and equipment updates necessary to assure adequate testing environments and capabilities. This has included air conditioning for NAHLN instrument rooms to assure proper environmental temperature and some minor laboratory equipment. It is anticipated that the majority of the NAHLN funding that has been placed in reserve over the past funding cycles, together with the current request, will be consumed in this purchase. This will include purchase price of the LIMS as well as any annual maintenance or service agreements for the first year. Any residual will be held as a contingency fund for unanticipated IT-related expenses.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
NAHLN:OR has continued to conserve NAHLN resources in order to develop a sufficient funding base to allow acquisition of a suitable LIMS system for the laboratory. Our current LIMS no longer receives adequate technical support or updates from the manufacturer, putting the integrity and reliability of our IT capabilities in considerable jeopardy. With the requested funding together with conserved funds, we anticipate that we will be able to purchase, install, and activate a new, robust LIMS for NAHLN:OR that will satisfy the needs of NAHLN and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and we will finally be able to enjoy stable technical support and upgrades. The emphasis of NAHLN-funded activity for NAHLN:OR in 2008-2009 will come under Output 3: IT and Data Management, and will include the following objectives: 1. Complete identification and review of commercially available and affordable LIMS software packages suitable for veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and select the system best suited to the needs of NAHLN:OR. 2. Complete state-based requirements for purchase of software packages. 3. Purchase the new LIMS for NAHLN:OR and the VDL. 4. Complete installation of the LIMS. 5. Complete training of personnel in the use of the LIMS. 6. Begin transition from VisuaLab to the new LIMS. 7. Validate connectivity of the LIMS to NAHLN.
Project Methods
1. Complete identification and review of commercially available LIMS software packages suitable for veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and select the system best suited to the needs of NAHLN:OR. We have identified several LIMS software packages designed for diagnostic laboratories. For each we are assessing such factors as hardware requirements, software design, user-friendliness, reporting capabilities, client access, and NAHLN-readiness. Hands-on access and use of these candidates provides an opportunity for testing the candidate LIMS by NAHLN:OR personnel. We expect completion of this review and selection of the LIMS best suited to the laboratory by the end of August, 2008. That selection will be based upon performance and support criteria and features, balanced against available funding. 2. Complete state-based requirements for purchase of software package. As NAHLN:OR will select the LIMS system best suited to our needs, sole source justification for that purchase will be required. We will work with the manufacturer to assure that the necessary standards can be matched to the selected software package. It is anticipated that this purchase will also require approval by the Oregon Department of Justice. 3. Purchase the new LIMS for NAHLN:OR and the VDL. Purchase will be contingent upon completion of all tasks outlined in #2. Purchase will be done through the Oregon State University purchasing process. 4. Complete installation of the LIMS. Manufacturer personnel will oversee installation of the system, in collaboration with NAHLN:OR IT personnel; the latter are members of the College of Veterinary Medicine IT staff. 5. Complete training of personnel in the use of the LIMS. We anticipate a minimum of 1 week of on-site training by representatives of the LIMS manufacturer. The schedule for this training will be a part of the purchase agreement. 6. Begin transition from VisuaLab to the new LIMS. We expect a period of at least one month where the new LIMS will operate in tandem with VisuaLab, after which VisuaLab will be taken off line and be placed into limited operation to provide archival services for data accumulated during its tenure. 7. Validate connectivity of the LIMS to NAHLN. At completion of installation, training, and startup activities for the new LIMS, test messages to validate connectivity to NAHLN will be conducted by in-house IT personnel as well as laboratory diagnosticians.