On December 1st, the new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for neonatal heel prick screening was successfully implemented by the RIVM, Isala, and ETZ laboratories. Using this system, the laboratories screen newborn babies' heel prick cards daily for 27 serious conditions.
This provides the laboratories involved in the heel prick screening with a future-oriented system that provides a solid foundation for quality assurance and the realisation of future innovations.
The NHS LIMS transmits the screening results from the screening laboratories to Praeventis, the information system of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). From there, actions are initiated for possible next steps. For example, in the event of an abnormal heel prick result, insufficient material, or if a second heel prick is necessary.
Watson & Associates managed the project for the preliminary phase and implementation. The project was developed in close collaboration with the client, the RIVM team, the supplier (Waters), and the laboratories involved.
Author: Henk Drenth