Managing the biology lab data jungle

Many biology labs fight with a glut of measurement data. New software aims to make this a thing of the past: it simplifies laboratory experiment evaluation and unifies how data is saved. It even identifies measurement errors on the spot.

During laboratory testing, countless measurement results accrue. To completely and systematically archive this body of data is extremely time consuming. In fact, researchers in the life sciences spend a quarter of their time managing data, according to an online survey of 70 people working in biology laboratories conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT in Sankt Augustin. Many of those surveyed reported that they have no centralized or structured approach to data collection in their workplace. And when a PhD student or assistant with years of experience leaves the institute and the successor tries to find and make sense of previous results, the search often begins with cryptic Excel tables and stacks of paper.

The FIT has taken steps to alleviate this problem. With its step-by-step operation, its “MPlexAnalyzer” software makes it considerably easier to manage data. Initially, the FIT experts concentrated on cytometric devices, which enable the simultaneous determination of a variety of proteins in a test batch. This approach, also called a cytometric multiplex assay, is a standard method in every biology lab. However, assays such as these are very complex and produce huge amounts of data, so it is no wonder that personnel without access to any supporting software often lose the upper hand with data collection. The FIT software’s wizard assistant guides users through the entire measurement process, starting with the selection of the microtiter plates, the choice of samples, and the assignment of standard samples, and provides a clearly arranged PDF report for print out; the process is transparent and easy for beginners to grasp quickly.

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