Portfolio:LIMSpec for Cannabis Testing

Title: LIMSpec for Cannabis Testing

Edition: 2023

Author for citation: Shawn E. Douglas

License for content: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Publication date: June 2023

Many specification documents for laboratory informatics systems have been compiled over the years. Most of them tend to focus on a potential client's "wishlist" of features for a given system. This industry-specific version of the base LIMSpec document is different; it attempts to take a regulatory-, standards-, and guidance-based approach to building a specification document for laboratory informatics systems used within the cannabis testing laboratory. After the introduction, methodology, and a discussion of industry-specific functionality requirements, cannabis testing-related LIMSpec requirements are organized and listed, in all but a few cases supported by one or more regulations, standards, or guidance documents. This guide also addresses the functionality requirements specific to cannabis testing, matching them to entries in the specification. New in the 2023 edition is a Microsoft Word version of the specification, for download and use in the last chapter.

The table of contents for LIMSpec for Cannabis Testing is as follows:

1. Introduction

Introduction and methodology

LIMS functionality requirements specific to cannabis testing

2. Primary laboratory workflow

1. Sample and experiment registration

2. Sample management

3. Core laboratory testing and experiments

4. Results review and verification

5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification

6. Reporting

3. Maintaining laboratory workflow and operations

7. Document and records management

8. Personnel and resource management

9. Compliance management

10. Instrument and equipment management

11. Batch and lot management

12. Scheduled event management

13. Instrument data capture and control

14. Standard and reagent management

15. Inventory management

16. Investigation and quality management

4. Technology and performance improvements

17. Instrument data systems functions

18. Systems integration

19. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning

20. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement

21. Artificial intelligence and smart systems

5. Security and integrity of systems and operations

22. Data integrity

23. Configuration management

24. System validation and commission

25. System administration

26. Cybersecurity

27. Information privacy

6. Closing remarks

Putting those requirements to practical use