Forensic Laboratories Leverages HORIZON® LIMS To Optimize Processes and Ensure Data Quality

ChemWare, one of the largest laboratory information management system (LIMS) companies in the United States specializing in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software solutions for managing the analytical and administrative work in toxicology laboratories, has partnered with Forensic Laboratories to streamline its processes as it expands its organization and its customer base. The Denver-based laboratory, specializing in toxicology services for drug abuse and compliance programs, more than doubled its office and laboratory space in the last two years to accommodate its exponentially growing business. It leverages ChemWare's HORIZON® LIMS software to interface with screening and confirmation instrumentation, enforce quality control, manage electronic chain of custody, automate the production and distribution of reports and provide remote client access for online test requests and results delivery.

"ChemWare is the industry leader for toxicology LIMS and offers the most complete solution for handling the diversity of our tests and complexity of our workflows," said Dwain Irvan, director of operations, Forensic Laboratories.  "Significant efficiency gains are being realized throughout the operation and ChemWare's integrated document management solution is reducing our paper footprint, benefitting both the company and the environment."

HORIZON LIMS is a COTS software system, which for 20 years has met the varied requirements of thousands of laboratory LIMS users. With its versatile Rules Engine Configuration tool, the system satisfies the complex needs of a wide range of customers, and is specifically designed to handle the diverse workflow for drug testing laboratories including quality control management, validity, retest scenarios, Medical Review Officer (MRO) processes and a variety of pain management and criminal justice electronic reporting formats. HORIZON is designed to ensure compliance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations which govern laboratory testing and reporting methodologies.

HORIZON LIMS also streamlines laboratory processes and provides forensic toxicologists with immediate and accurate test data thus enabling physicians to effectively treat patients while assessing the patient's compliance and prescribed drug utilization. Furthermore, HORIZON facilitates the electronic integration with hospital, physician and medical billing systems.