eLabJournal

Working with the team at eLab Journal to implement our LIMS and make enhancements as our laboratory has grown has been a wonderful experience. Everyone we have worked with is responsive and collaborative. The software itself has amazing functionality and provides the features we need to act as an efficient, high throughput testing laboratory.

When we implemented the software in 2020, some of the menu items and navigation seemed disjointed and not exceptionally intuitive. eLab Journal has evolved since then and we have seen improvements. The team is also open to our feedback as system users.

eLab Journal offers some great and convenient methods for record-keeping in the lab, including experimental notes, sample cataloging, and protocol generation/application. I would say that the ability to generate ready-to-use experimental templates has been one of the biggest advantages for this platform since it can dramatically streamline end-of-day records. This also helps a great deal from the perspective of managers since incoming study notes from direct reports will look more uniform.

I think one of the most notable functions that is lacking in eLab is a spell-check function. For record-keeping and really for any online platform, this is such a common function that it is really missed when not available. This is a really simple way to avoid entry mistakes that can cause larger disruptions downstream.

eLabJournal is a simple and clean eLN, without any complicated features. It is like having a digital version of a labnotebook. Nothing more and nothing less. There are no distractions of features that you would never use, therefore it is relatively easy to start working with it.

It is a simple and clean eLN, but it doesn't work intuitive and typing text in either protocols and experiments was overly complicated. We had some issues with text not being saved. The barcode printing part never worked and then they discontinued a certain type of labelprinter. With a non-functioning barcode part, the inventory management part was also useless for us.

This product has greatly facilitated the standardization of sample intake and inventory. Likewise, I really appreciate the ability to set up lab protocols (with version tracking) and standardized experiment templates. These features, in particular, make it easy to bring on new lab helpers in an undergraduate setting. There is no need to manage and track shared files or folders, and when a student leaves, their records and activities are preserved. The interface has generally been quite intuitive and easy to maneuver, and customer support is responsive and helpful if a user runs into problems.

There are still a few glitchy (largely aesthetic) areas. For example, the "Lineage" button appears to multiply as one clicks on or manipulates successive sample records. This can be resolved by refreshing the page, but it is not guaranteed that you will remain on the same sample record when you refresh. This doesn't seem to impact the integrity of sample records, but can be annoying when working with a lot of sample records.
There is not yet a function to create copies of plates of samples (e.g., whole-plate aliquots, series, or downstream product). One can work around this with batch importation, but I do look forward to this feature eventually being incorporated.