Material Database for Laboratories

Author: Julia Hannemann, Irene Krämer, erstellt 2003/07/26, Editor: Dr. med. Ralf Herold, Last modification: 2004/06/16

Establishment of a Basis for Material Management for Trial and Reference Laboratories

Some trial and reference labs involved in GPOH therapy optimization trials lacked an adequate computer based material management. In other cases, existing applications did not offer desired features. Also the great number of different database systems made an exchange of data among the trial coordination centers and the cooperating institutions difficult. A demand analysis showed that the labs needed a decentralized, individual data management. A standardized basic structure for such systems that largely prevents data redundancy is to be guaranteed nevertheless.

The Study Support Group developed an adaptable and general version of such a database that allows an exchange of data between laboratories and trial coordination centers.

Microsoft Access 97 (TM) format was chosen for the database as it is widely used and most of the laboratories run the Microsoft Windows NT (TM) operating system.

The prototype still has to bee adapted to the individual demands of the respective laboratories. Care was taken that an initial overview of the whereabouts of received specimen can always be given. A recording of results is not intended but can be integrated individually.

As we'd like to keep track of where and to which extend the database is in use, it is not available for download here. Members of the GPOH and the Competence Network on Pediatric Oncology and Hematology may contact Julia Hannemann for a demo version and further information.