Automating bioanalytical sample analysis through enhanced system integration.

Background: In the bioanalytical laboratory, challenges associated with manual, repetitive, labor-intensive processes can be addressed by powerful automated liquid handlers; however, their implementation has been difficult due to lack of efficient integration into laboratory workflows. Faster throughput is afforded to ligand binding assay (LBA) technologies via enhanced automation, but the upstream sample processing still remains a bottleneck. To be truly efficient, these technologies must be incorporated into a laboratory information management system (LIMS) to streamline data analysis and reporting.