Overview
The Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (ECL) receives and analyzes samples collected by programs across the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). ECL did not have an integrated laboratory information management system (LIMS) for securely managing required data to support legal cases and reviews. Data was stored across several systems and the lack of traceability and secure transmission throughout the data lifecycle posed a major risk to data credibility for uses such as criminal investigations, enforcement cases, regulation development, and public health investigations.
Improved data quality and credibility increases the likelihood of supportable convictions, more effectively deterring acts of illegal dumping. Stored data results can be used to support future regulations protecting citizens from toxic substances.
Goal
Streamline laboratory operations and addresses potential risks to the quality and legal defensibility of data used for enforcement and cleanup decision-making.
Project Information
- Project #:
- 3960-026
- Total TMF investment amount:
- $485,690
Project Outcome
The upgraded LIMS solution helps ECL streamline laboratory operations and more easily address potential risks to the quality and legal defensibility of data. It supports receiving data directly from laboratory equipment through automated and traceable data transmission, reducing data entry burdens and guaranteeing the reliability of data for investigations and enforcement. Data entered electronically is disseminated to all required records which reduces review times, automatically calculates results, generates reports, and more easily supports court case information requests.
Key Activities
- Implemented secure data transmission from laboratory instruments to storage
- Automated reporting
- Increased scope of data tracked and recorded
- Implemented mobile access for staff
More about ECL: Environmental Chemistry Lab | Department of Toxic Substances Control (ca.gov)
Impacted audience
Public (citizens and businesses)
- Upgraded LIMS provide more timely confirmation to the public for the existence or the absence of hazardous waste at a site.
Court staff
- Upgraded LIMS provide more timely confirmation to court staff of the existence or
the absence of hazardous waste at a site.
DTSC’s ECL laboratory scientists
Data entered the upgraded LIMS can:
- Be electronically transferred to required records.
- Upgraded LIMS provide more timely confirmation to court staff of the existence or
the absence of hazardous waste at a site. - Reduce number of manual entries and review time.
- Automated calculation of results and electronic storage.
- Upgrades provide more timely confirmation to court staff of the existence or the absence of hazardous waste at a site.
- Reduces time to produce reports.
- Support records automatically link to sample results.