Going Mobile in the Lab

The evolution of mobile devices in labs

Labs actually embraced mobile centuries ago – with paper and pencil.

Even after the implementation of centralized workstations, paper and pencil remained the primary “mobile devices” used in the lab. Not near the workstation? Write it down…

Of course, all that data recorded by hand needed to be input into the lab management platforms, so it could be more easily tracked. Not only did the data entry take time, but it was also a point where errors could be introduced into the data.

As technology has evolved, labs are replacing paper and pen with tablets and mobile phones. Using tablets and mobile phones within your lab toolkit offers significant benefits. It makes lab personnel’s daily work more convenient, streamlined and efficient. Going mobile reduces the time team members spend accessing workstations. Thanks to the portability of phones and tablets, lab techs can perform tasks on the go, closely aligning with real-time events.

The guiding principles include focusing on simple, frequent actions that only require recording. The goal is to ensure a user experience within the limited screen space, aiming to make the actions faster, more deliberate and with fewer clicks while enhancing the overall experience and adding value.

Real-life mobile use in the lab

Mobile devices and tablets are ideal when something needs to be recorded “on the go” or when, due to the nature of the experiment or workflow, the researcher cannot leave the area to record the data at a central workstation. For example, on a sterile manufacturing floor or in a cleanroom, every time a person leaves, they go through a disinfection process.

In a quality control (QC) lab, researchers are transporting samples between various locations. The easiest way to keep track of everything is via mobile devices. This approach allows clear documentation of the lineage of samples, providing a real-time snapshot of where they are and the paths they take around the lab – significantly streamlining regulatory reporting and compliance.

Another case for using mobile devices is during complex procedures within devices such as fume hoods. It’s critical not to interrupt the airflow or disturb the procedures in process. Small mobile devices can be used to collate the data without causing harm to the experimenter or the experiment.

With a mobile device at hand, lab personnel can record critical data in situ. Furthermore, the mobile devices are usually on the network or synched with the actual electronic lab notebook (ELN) or laboratory information management system (LIMS), thus, the real-time data entered is automatically stored and shared with other researchers.

Cost, efficiency, practicality and time savings using mobile devices

Going mobile also helps reduce equipment costs. Built-in mobile cameras and scanners allow automatic image uploading to the ELN or LIMS, linking them directly to the experimental data. This capability is especially valuable in agricultural research and development, where hundreds of photos may be generated daily in a greenhouse setting.

Mobile devices make it easier to ensure that protocols are followed at every step of the way. Tablets, for instance, are great for storing and accessing checklists, ensuring that the tasks are completed accurately. No one’s memory is perfect, and mobile devices can provide real-time reminders and checks.

One of the easiest cases to make for increasing the presence of mobile devices in the lab is simply the time savings. Even in non-cleanroom environments, simply having mobile devices handy eliminates the need to wait for the person who is using the main workstation to finish, never mind the time it takes to walk back and forth from bench to workstation. Even reducing a five-minute walk to a workstation can add up, compounding into hundreds of hours and dollars saved through increased efficiency.

Administrative work is simplified when done via mobile. Often, senior researchers must sign off on the findings of their more junior peers. Implementing mobile access for approvals means that the sign-off process can occur from anywhere, significantly speeding up workflows.

In busy labs, equipment is not always available. Most ELNs have equipment calendars built in, so if a researcher forgets to reserve equipment while at work, they can access the calendar via their mobile and reserve it from wherever they are.

Many ELNs already are paired with mobile apps. It’s just a matter of adding access and permissions within the main system, which are also carried forth within the mobile environment.

Getting started with mobile in the lab

If your lab hasn’t already embraced mobile, one of the easiest ways to start is to use it for stock management. It’s easier, faster and more efficient to bring a tablet into the storage room than recording everything on paper and performing data entry later. Then, as everyone’s comfort level with mobile increases, it can be applied to other areas of lab management.

Of course, privacy and data protection need to be considered when expanding mobile lab operations. An easy solution is purchasing dedicated mobile devices that just stay within the lab, ensuring better control over data and device management.

Mobile devices, whether tablets or phones, will never fully replace the workstation when it comes to more complex workflows. Longer processes require more attention to detail, so mobile may not always be the best solution. However, implementing it wherever you can saves considerable time and resources while improving overall lab efficiency.