An Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) is a software system that provides the users in a laboratory an electronic interface similar to a physical paper-based laboratory notebook. ELNs were originally designed for researchers and over a period of time 2 different types evolved one for research and another type was designed to execution of laboratory procedures (called Laboratory execution system or LES). Also, some of the ELNs were designed specifically for certain area or domain specific. 

In a highly complex laboratory working environment, a well-maintained laboratory notebook is an important tool for documenting experimental progress and keeping researchers organized. Often the lab analysts and researchers find the task of maintaining the lab notebook either on paper or spreadsheet in their local computer systems a nightmare, as it poses serious challenges and vulnerabilities in terms of data integrity, data loss, inaccuracies, inconsistencies intellectual property protection and non-compliance to statutory standards.

Maintaining a comprehensive electronic laboratory notebook (e-lab note, e lab book or e-notebook, Laboratory Execution system (LES) in short) is very much needed to overcome the challenges of maintaining paper-based records of laboratory observations and results. It can also be a valuable resource when patenting a discovery.       

Agaram Technologies’ Logilab ELN is a generic ELN intended to be used in laboratories across various scientific fields.

Logilab ELN can be used by laboratories that are conducting tests or experiments and by researchers who are working on projects and product development.

In this Electronic Notebook application, Lab Technician, Analyst, Researcher or Scientist can document protocols, procedures and enter lab results, observations, notes and other data.  Calculations similar to excel can be setup to be executed in a controlled manner. Researcher can create a notebook electronically in ELN system online and start recording the conditions of experiment, outcome of experiment, including non-structured information such as text, tables, images, attachment, chemical structure, mathematical formula, free hand text etc.

Using Logilab ELN software, the lab organizations can aim to achieve higher productivity, better quality and compliance to regulatory standards by adopting to paperless processes. This will ultimately result in overall better laboratory management, high level of data integrity and easily meet ALCOA’s ‘C’ which is “Contemporaneous” recording of data which are important for GxP labs

Logilab ELN system has evolved in such a manner that it not only helps labs to manage data, but it also facilitates them to adhere to the methods of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), ensure regulatory compliance and provide advanced workflow. This leads to the ELN being fully integrated, paper-less, error-free and highly reliable information for processing and reporting Laboratory data.

Logilab ELN is a generic software product that can be used across multiple laboratories in many industries. Logilab ELN is used by laboratories worldwide to document tests/experiments and research in various disciplines like chemistry, biotech, healthcare, life sciences, energy, agriculture, engineering, metallurgy, environmental science etc. It has specific functionalities to help GxP regulated facilities.

Logilab ELN is a Browser-based application that can be run using any of the standard web browsers such as Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox, etc. The server components of the software will be installed only once in a central server (either on-premises or cloud server). It can be accessed across the secured network (on-premises) or over internet (cloud-based) using secured user credentials. All the laboratory data will be stored in a central server (i.e. single source of truth) with no need to store it on local systems.

Logilab ELN provides an easy-to-use excel like drag-and-drop user interface to design laboratory task or activity templates called Labsheets. They can be easily be designed, modified, shared and approved by the lab users and scientists by simple drag-and-drop of required type fields along with a very vital features namely, calculations, formula, SOPs creation, version control, input data validation, link to multiple template sheets, import and export of data, integration to instrument captured data, Data Parsing capabilities, Protocols setup and execution, etc.

Logilab ELN has a full-fledged user roles and rights management module. It facilitates the following in terms of better security and control of operations:

• Configurable User and User group rights
• Microsoft Active Directory (ADS) Integration option
• Retire / Activate users
• Project team configuration
• Password Policy configuration
• Session Lockout configuration
• Auto lock of user account

The lab sheets are version and release-controlled. They can also be validated before entering data which is a mandatory requirement of GxP labs. The data is captured contemporaneously and stored in a secured central database which acts as a single source of truth. Labsheets can be created and used by collaborating with the authorised users and approved by competent approvers (with electronic signature) by workflow feature. All the actions performed in the system are audit trailed and tracked easily at any point of time. The data that is stored can be easily searched, retrieved and exported to user-readable formats like excel, PDF, etc. Hence Logilab ELN can ensure compliance to various regulatory requirements for example, US FDA 21 CFR Part 11, EU’s Eudralex Annex 11, UK’s MHRA and other GxP principles.

Logilab ELN has been implemented with SaaS model on Azure-hosted cloud environment. It can be accessed from any web browser using thin clients such as laptops, tablets and smart phones.     

This facilitates real-time collaboration amongst laboratories located across many places internationally.

Cloud-based ELN eliminates the need of huge investment in constructing IT infrastructure and hiring of trained personnel. 

Cloud-hosting of ELN enables quick, easy and cost-effective deployment in a secure, reliable and highly available environment.