EXPERIENCE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ELETRONIC LABORATORY NOTEBOOK IN A RESEARCH GROUP OF A PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTION: VIABILITY AND IMPACTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: To describe and analyze the pilot process of implementing an electronic laboratory notebook in a research laboratory of a public health institution considering the feasibility and impacts of this initiative. This was a descriptive case study. As a reference to realize the pilot project, the Quality Practices Manual in Basic Biomedical Research, data integrity requirements based on the ALCOA principles, that means, the data must be accurate, legible, contemporary, original, and attributable, as well as complete, consistent, long-lasting and available. In addition to the requirements mentioned, the most relevant characteristics for the institution were considered for the selection of the Eletronic Laboratory Notebook. This work enabled the laboratory to keep meeting the requirements of the Quality Management System standards implemented in the laboratory, with greater effectiveness, by allowing the replacement of the physical laboratory notebook by the electronic one. The one that best met the institutional needs was chosen, open source software, which allowed data to be stored on the institutional network, had flexibility, ease of research, collaboration, security and flexibility. The researchers, technicians and students of the pilot group considered that the impact of the use of an Eletronic Laboratory Notebook is very positive for the institution; both to facilitate the registration of project information, as well as the sharing of information and monitoring by supervisors, in addition to greater ease in preparing reports, thesis, dissertations and articles.