Digital lab assistants are revolutionizing the way vivarium and in vivo technicians conduct dosing studies in biotech and pharma companies. These assistants provide real-time data collection and analysis, enabling technicians to manage, track, and document their work more efficiently and accurately.
With their advanced capabilities, digital lab assistants offer a range of benefits, including improved biosafety, enhanced data quality, and increased efficiency in resource management. In this blog post, we'll explore how these innovative tools are transforming dosing studies and improving the overall research process.
Watch the example below, and then read on to learn how digital transformation leads to a better vivarium environment. Note: as with all LabVoice demonstrations, each LabFlow can be easily tailored to match your unique workflow.
Better Biosafety & Reduced Contamination
In a vivarium or in vivo study, contamination is always top of mind. Digital lab assistants can help reduce the risk of contamination by allowing for hands-free data collection. For example, a technician can use voice to record weights, misinjections, and other data points without touching a computer or pen & paper. This means that the technician can focus on the dosing process and not focus on what they can and cannot touch.
Improved Data Quality
Because digital lab assistants can record data in real-time, perform calculations, and eliminate the need for transcription, there is less room for human error. For example, if a technician is manually recording data, they may accidentally enter the wrong number (e.g. noting the time as 1:23 instead of 12:23) or misinterpret their handwriting from earlier in the day. This can lead to inaccurate data that can compromise the validity of the study. It’s not uncommon for techs to write results on sticky notes or paper, then re-enter them into Microsoft Excel or an ELN (as in the above example). With digital lab assistants, however, data is recorded automatically to its final destination, and offers the ability to include quality checks. For example, any outlier data points will be flagged, such as a mouse weighing too little, and the operator will be asked to confirm that datum or provide a comment for the exception.
Efficient Use of Technician’s Time
Dosing studies often require two technicians: one technician who performs the injections and another acting as a human scribe, noting measurements, time stamps, and any comments/observations. With digital lab assistants, technicians can perform both tasks simultaneously, allowing the “scribe” scientist to perform other activities or double the throughput. Should the technician identify any issues or concerns, study directors and animal welfare team members will be notified in real-time via notifications from the digital lab assistant, rather than requiring the technician to write an email after the fact. This can impact both study outcomes and animal welfare.
Interested in learning more about our platform or the digital assistant integrations we’ve built? Request to speak with LabVoice or for a copy of our case studies here: info@labvoice.ai.