Lifted Testing Laboratories Improves Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction by Digitizing Operations Using CloudLIMS

Lifted Testing Laboratories (LTL) is a premier state-certified laboratory located in Rhode Island specializing in the testing of cannabis products. LTL, a third-party cannabis testing laboratory, is certified to test a variety of cannabis products, including solvent-based and non-solvent based concentrates, infused products such as edibles, non-edibles, and pre-rolls, and raw materials such as flowers. Their comprehensive testing services include a wide range of analyses, such as tests for potency, terpene profiling, microbial contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and residual solvents, ensuring that all products meet the stringent regulatory requirements set forth by the state government. They continually strive to enhance their services and stay abreast of the latest advancements in testing, ensuring they provide their clients with accurate and valid test results in a fast turnaround.

LTL faced several operational challenges as a testing lab. Their primary workflow involves collecting samples at the customer’s site, registering them in their lab, and analyzing various parameters based on the test request. After testing, samples are either returned to the clients or stored for 14 days before disposal. 

Despite their robust testing capabilities, LTL struggled with several inefficiencies due to their reliance on non-automated systems. Some of them are as follows:

• Manual Invoicing and Accounting: LTL generated invoices manually, which made it difficult to track payments and manage accounting efficiently. In addition to being time-consuming, this manual process led to errors, delays, and inaccuracies in financial reporting.
• Client Management: Enabling customers to monitor the status of their test requests and enabling access to Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) after testing was challenging, causing confusion, customer dissatisfaction, and reduced efficiency in sample submission and result retrieval.
• Tracking of Sample Test Results: Keeping track of test data generated from various instruments and processing the data manually caused delays in result processing and increased the workload for lab staff.
• Lack of Integration with Metrc: To comply with the state regulatory reporting guidelines, cannabis testing labs in Rhode Island must submit test results to Metrc within a stipulated time frame. LTL lacked integration with Metrc. The absence of integration with Metrc made compliance with state reporting requirements challenging and required additional manual effort for submitting test results, resulting in inefficiency and potential errors.

To overcome the aforementioned challenges, LTL started looking for a comprehensive LIMS solution. They booked a demo of CloudLIMS and were impressed by its robust capabilities. Recognizing that CloudLIMS could not only address their challenges but also significantly enhance their efficiency, they decided to deploy CloudLIMS in their laboratory. The CloudLIMS team configured the product to help LTL efficiently manage different types of samples, tests, analytes, and catalogs. Furthermore, they configured test report templates for generating personalized CoAs, barcode templates for tracking different sample types, and more to accelerate LTL’s onboarding process. The CloudLIMS team conducted extensive training sessions to ensure a smooth transition and promptly answered all questions, guiding them through a seamless onboarding experience.

With CloudLIMS, LTL streamlined their operations, enhanced data accuracy, and ensured compliance with regulatory requirements, ultimately boosting their operational efficiency and client satisfaction.

• CloudLIMS provided seamless integration with QuickBooks, enabling automated invoicing and improving accounting accuracy. This integration reduced manual effort and minimized errors.
• CloudLIMS configured and revamped the Client Portal, streamlining its layout by removing unnecessary columns and renaming attributes. This transformation made the portal more intuitive and user-friendly, improving the overall client experience and making the sample submission process more efficient.
• CloudLIMS updated the file import functionality and installed the latest middleware for efficient instrument integration. This enabled smooth and accurate importing of results, reducing processing delays and minimizing the need for manual corrections.
• CloudLIMS extended its support by integrating with Metrc to automate the reporting of test results to the state regulatory agencies in Rhode Island. This integration ensured compliance with state regulations and streamlined the regulatory process for LTL.

LTL experienced the following benefits after successfully deploying CloudLIMS:

• Regulatory Compliance: CloudLIMS helps LTL seamlessly meet regulatory requirements of ISO 17025, ensuring they adhere to all necessary standards and guidelines.
• Training Management: CloudLIMS’ Trainings module tracks staff competencies, ensuring all personnel are qualified to operate lab instruments and perform their duties effectively.
• Inventory Management: The Lab Inventory module of CloudLIMS allows LTL to efficiently track stock levels and expiry dates, ensuring they have the necessary supplies whenever needed for analysis and reducing waste through optimal utilization.
• Sample Tracking: CloudLIMS offers robust sample logging and tracking capabilities, improving lab management and ensuring that all samples are accurately documented throughout the testing process.
• Result Entry: CloudLIMS’ instrument interfacing capability automates result entry, reducing manual errors and speeding up data entry.
• Customized CoAs: CloudLIMS enables LTL to generate customized CoAs for reporting test results, providing clients with detailed reports.
• Client Portal: LTL’s clients can now submit test orders and register samples directly using CloudLIMS’ efficient client portal. Furthermore, they can download the CoA from the portal as soon as testing is complete. 
• Invoicing: The integration with QuickBooks allows LTL to send invoice details directly via QuickBooks along with the CoA, further enhancing their financial management capabilities.
• Metrc Integration: CloudLIMS’ integration with Metrc allows LTL to meet state compliance and report the data to authorities in a specified format in an automated manner.