LIMS Replacement Project
Overview
The Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) is updating its Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to improve how lab data is collected, stored, and shared. Right now, the lab uses several older systems that no longer work well together. This multi‑year project will replace those systems with one secure, modern, and efficient platform. We have now reached an important milestone: The Pilot phase.
Why We Need This Change
OSPHL's current systems vary widely in how they work, require a lot of manual data handling, and don't fully meet today's data standards. Because of this, work takes longer, data is harder to share, and mistakes are more likely. A modern LIMS will improve data quality, increase security, and better support public health testing and result reporting across Oregon.
What the New System Will Provide
- Improved connections with partners and healthcare providers
- Simpler workflows with less manual data entry
- More accurate, consistent, and easy‑to‑find lab data
- Stronger security protections
- Flexibility to support new tests and future program needs
Where We Are Now
We are currently in the Pilot phase. This phase focuses on testing how the new system works in real‑world lab situations to make sure it will meet the needs of staff and partners before it is put into use. Pilot activities are taking place with the Newborn Bloodspot Screening Section and include
lab-wide testing of:
- Receiving specimens
- Entering orders
- Electronic ordering and resulting
- Web portal features
- Connections with testing instruments
- Result reporting and result formats
- Documentation for follow‑up of abnormal results
- Internal laboratory workflows
These activities help
test system features, find and correct problems, and prepare the LIMS for broader use.
What's Next
As Pilot testing continues, OSPHL will refine workflows, resolve issues, train staff, validate instruments, and prepare submitting facilities and public health programs for phased implementation of the new system.
Detor Initiative
OSPHL is part of the national Digital Exchange of Test Orders and Results (Detor) project. Detor allows healthcare providers and public health labs to securely send laboratory test orders and results to each other electronically and in real time. This reduces manual work, improves accuracy, and supports faster clinical decisions, especially important for time‑sensitive programs like Newborn Bloodspot Screening.