We’re only human (and therein lies the problem).

Remember the days of manual data entry? I do. It used to be the only way to get the job done. It also used to produce untraceable mistakes for irreparable harm. From our earliest days of implementing the Manufacturing Suite on PCs in the laboratory, it became clear there was a critical need for a direct connection to bench instruments.

Reason being, we saw laboratory technicians, otherwise occupied with analysis and reporting, who were also scrambling to manually enter findings, which, as you can imagine, was inefficient and prone to mistakes. Additionally, human ability to record every trace of data collected is virtually impossible and makes retention of key evidence a big challenge as well.

We also realized that often the average of data collected from multiple samples was, at best, roughly calculated in the head of the technician and only a single value was recorded, saving keystrokes yet losing valuable information.

Another issue was the connection itself. At LabLink’s inception, most PCs only had a serial port or two, necessitating use of at least a 16-channel multiplexer and multiple separate cable runs to even begin to connect the numerous devices in a standard lab. Efficient? Hardly.

Knowing the challenges, QiSOFT created the software solution known as LabLink. Using our own designs for connection with a multi-drop network, along with a keypad at each instrument for sample identification, LabLink frees the technician from the burden of typing and eliminates mistakes. Better yet, instead of just getting “some” of the evidence, with LabLink you get all of the evidence, not just what is humanly possible.

Human error will always exist. Thankfully now, LabLink does, too.

Brian Harkness
With QiSOFT Since 1996