MASTR-MS: Metabolomics Australia Sample Tracking System

Background: A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) manages all aspects of the functioning of a laboratory from client communication, project and experiment setup to the capture and management of raw data from instruments. The large amount of high throughput data generated in Metabolomics increases the necessity of such LIMS systems in metabolomics labs. The few currently available LIMS solutions have limitations such as not being open source and requiring substantial efforts to adapt for other metabolomics labs.

Method: Metabolomics Australia and Australian Bioinformatics Facility have jointly developed MASTR-MS as part of the Bioplatforms Australia national initiative.

 Results: MASTR-MS is an online, state of the art LIMS solution for metabolomics that manages researchers’ needs from experimental design to the capture and management of raw and processed data of metabolomics experiments.  MASTR-MS is comprised of three modules, namely, User Management, Sample Management and Data Management. The User Management Module is an online secure system for all the users of MASTR-MS with customisable access privileges. Sample Management Module has the capability of quoting experiment costs, setting up projects and experiments, defining sample details, tracking them and establishing sample run protocols.  Data Management Module has the capability of storing meta data, capturing raw data obtained from the direct interface with instruments (GC-MS, LC-MS) and storing processed/analysed data files associated to the experiment.

Conclusion: MASTR–MS is a comprehensive metabolomics LIMS system that has shown increased efficiency, data integrity and security as well as better communication and collaboration between Metabolomics Australia and their clients.