eLabJournal

Functionality and Superb Customer Support

Opmerkingen: Our overall experience with eLab Journal has been exceptional. We are glad we chose to partner with them because they were definitely the right choice! They have helped us immensely and we would not have achieved a successful project outcome without them.

Pluspunten:

Working with the team at eLab Journal to implement our LIMS and make enhancements as our laboratory has grown has been a wonderful experience. Everyone we have worked with is responsive and collaborative. The software itself has amazing functionality and provides the features we need to act as an efficient, high throughput testing laboratory.

Minpunten:

When we implemented the software in 2020, some of the menu items and navigation seemed disjointed and not exceptionally intuitive. eLab Journal has evolved since then and we have seen improvements. The team is also open to our feedback as system users.

Keeping Track of the Research

Opmerkingen: This has been a great experience. At first had only planned to use for single aspect of research project and now pushing for us to incorporate into other areas. Customer support has been excellent. Always quick to respond when have questions or requests, and so very willing to work with us to customize the system to our needs.

Pluspunten:

Although there was a learning process to using the system, it did not take more than a week for us to build the framework that needed for managing samples and recording experimental data. Have multiple users with different levels of comfort with technology and hearing more and more from group that so glad that set this up for this research project. Really appreciate that Microsoft Office integrated into system, not only for editing files but as sections within a entry. This has allowed users that do not have access to office to work with us with ease

Minpunten:

Lacking some options that know are available on other electronic notebook freeware (To Do Lists, Task assignment, Calendar, Messaging center, view only of integrating Microsoft office components, comment tracking, tags for indexing entries). One option that would love to have that seen in other electronic notebook software is the option to share study with outside user so can view (not edit) for defined period of time without using a licensed space. Would be happy if there was a limit on how many of these could exist at a time

Overwogen alternatieven: Labguru

Redenen om voor eLabJournal te kiezen: Needed a inventory system that allowed better handling of aliquots and lineage. The permission management system was better for the needs of the group. And that hardly anything is every truly gone, can track history of pretty much everything.

Overgestapt van: Labfolder

Redenen om over te stappen op eLabJournal: The customer service, the rep who set up our demo provided such good information. Was impressed that during the demo period (which was a month), he not only respond well to our questions but took our feedback and entered as requests for modification of the system. Demonstrated to us that would work with us to help us use the system to fit our particular needs

Online journal

Opmerkingen: Better for the environment and also don't have to worry about losing/spilling stuff on lab notebook.

Pluspunten:

Once again it allows for easy access to other lab mates by simply sharing it with them. No issues with legibility or whatever.

Minpunten:

Takes a while getting used to actually typing in experiments, protocols, data, etc. but it can be more convenient than conventional paper.

Online Journal

Pluspunten:

Switching from traditional paperback lab notebooks to online journaling is an overwhelming task in itself, but eLabJournal simplifies the process of writing, peer-reviewing, and signing off experiments/studies. Entries are accessible when needed to be shared with other laboratories or departments and with the eLabInventory integration, it's easier to keep track of and know the components of an experiment. An amazing feature is the ability to attach files and to link other experiments within an entry, this eases the need to manage local folders for various users since they are downloadable anytime (and anywhere). Their superb customer service needs praise on its own. They have knowledgeable people who are quick to help and go beyond in explaining things and even accommodate the needs of our lab, both in research and operations.

Minpunten:

An entry can only be signed-off by a single person which makes it tricky for experiments or studies that needs both internal and quality reviews. eLabInventory is glitchy when there's a lot of back-to-back updates or additions made in the system.

eLab has helped manage a veritable flood of samples

Opmerkingen: Overall, I'm very pleased with eLab. It has greatly streamlined the tracking of sample receipt and downstream processing for thousands of samples, allowing me to set up standard procedures that even novice undergraduate students can follow without difficulty. Likewise, the pricing was very competitive and the team at eLab has been very responsive and pleasant to work with.

Pluspunten:

This product has greatly facilitated the standardization of sample intake and inventory. Likewise, I really appreciate the ability to set up lab protocols (with version tracking) and standardized experiment templates. These features, in particular, make it easy to bring on new lab helpers in an undergraduate setting. There is no need to manage and track shared files or folders, and when a student leaves, their records and activities are preserved. The interface has generally been quite intuitive and easy to maneuver, and customer support is responsive and helpful if a user runs into problems.

Minpunten:

There are still a few glitchy (largely aesthetic) areas. For example, the "Lineage" button appears to multiply as one clicks on or manipulates successive sample records. This can be resolved by refreshing the page, but it is not guaranteed that you will remain on the same sample record when you refresh. This doesn't seem to impact the integrity of sample records, but can be annoying when working with a lot of sample records. There is not yet a function to create copies of plates of samples (e.g., whole-plate aliquots, series, or downstream product). One can work around this with batch importation, but I do look forward to this feature eventually being incorporated.

Overwogen alternatieven: Benchling

Redenen om over te stappen op eLabJournal: eLab offered a combined electronic lab journal and inventory tracking/management platform that was both intuitive and economical.