Development of an Integrated Laboratory Information Management System in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This paper presents an integrated Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), which was developed and implemented for a gas manufacturing and distribution company operating in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Specifically, LIMS was developed for all the analytical areas available in the ADGAS laboratory, including the marketable products (LNG, propane, butane, paraffinic naphtha sulfur, and crude oil), lube oil, water, raw materials, gases, and other products/services. Ever since it was launched in January 2008, routine testing schedules are generated every morning automatically, and the data files generated by the major instruments are automatically transferred. Complicated downstream calculations are also performed automatically. The sample life cycle goes through steps such as entry of variables, calculations, data control, and validation of results.