BLIPS Version One was released exclusively to the Bilag group in 1998 as a direct replacement for their old DOS BILAG database. It included a completely new GUI interface for the Bilag index – monitoring of eight clinical systems – mucocutaneous, immunological, vascular, haematological, cardiovascular, biochemical neurological, musculoskeletal, and added new functionality recording of medication drugs and laboratory results.

BLIPS Version Two in 1999 added two further internationally recognised indices – SLICC and SF-36. Graphing of results was introduced to the functionality, and the product became a network client-server application.

Blips Version 3.0 was released worldwide in 2000 allowing non-BILAG clinics to obtain the tool. Version 3.0 included two more indices, SLAM-R and Selena Sledai. It was recoded in Access 97 and a 100-page user guide and helptext were added. BLIPS 3.0 is now in use in major universities and hospitals throughout the UK, USA and Canada and as far a field as China, Korea, Australia and the Philippines.  During 2003-2005 several clinical studies were conducted using BLIPS 3.0

BLIPS Version 4.0 was released first released in a bespoke Clinical Study version in November 2005. It has since been used introduced in more studies in 2006. Changes included improved security and audit trail for FDA CFR21 compliance. Demographic data screens were replaced with Patient IDs. Sign off reports were introduced, along with the ability to automatically email them to the Study Control centre. A system admin function was introduced to allow Study Organisers to define which functionality would be available to clinics during trials.  Further development has enabled BLIPS 4.0 to be released in June 2006 as a standard product release, rather than restricting it to Clinical Studies.

BLIPS is now in use in over 30 countries around the world, and since release around 200 users have registered their copies.

LIMA™ Version 6.0

The industrial diversity of the LIMA customer base continues to motivate us here at ADS-Limathon.

LIMA Version 4.0 and its Network Administrator Version was the result of collaborative work with food and confectionary giant, Nestle, in Switzerland.

LIMA Version 5.0 , the Service Base version, was a developed in collaboration with DP Services a petrochemical instrument maintenance company in Scotland. This version was specifically designed for use by Instrument Maintenance companies and includes a customer database and is still available.

And now LIMA 6 has been developed in collaboration with the National Thermal Power Corporation in India.

The new version has increased FDA 21CFR compliance with electronic signature validation and  stricter logon, and complete audit trail. Enhancements specified by NTPC included improved calibration settings allowing automatic generation of calibration points between the upper and lower limits, based on either % of upper value, or % of Range. The concept of Master Calibration Instruments is also catered for, along with improved sign off reports. Other improvements designed by ourselves were focused on enhancing the Admin sections introduced in version 4 and extending the use of tab screens to the instrument record card.

ADS-Limathon Managing Director, Gordon Hamilton, commented : "LIMA had grown from a simple and easy to use instrument log database into a very complex and flexible instrument management solution. The challenge was to increase the complexity yet again, retain the flexibility to support divers industries, but streamline the user interface to improve ease of use and user navigation. Early comments from customers suggest we have achieved this.  LIMA has been around now for 10 years so its a fantastic accolade to hear its still a top solution. The introduction of features required by the power industry is already paying dividends as the International Atomic Energy Agency based in Vienna has committed to purchase LIMA for over 20 atomic power stations in Africa. Equally satisfying is the knowledge that while LIMA was originally  designed for the Laboratory industry ten years ago, it has been reshaped to support food, petrochem and electricity industries, but it has retained its support in its native sector. Last week a new customer at A.P. Pharma, (USA) told to us last week that after reviewing all the products on the market, LIMA was by far the best solution for her Pharmaceutical Laboratory."

International Atomic Energy Agency is the latest in a long list of valued internationally famous customers using LIMA, which includes the US Navy (at Pearl Harbour), Esso, Exxon, Heineken, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Nestle, General Electric (to name a few !).

For the technophiles LIMA Version 6 is available with Access XP Runtime as a stand alone PC version. Network versions will require Access XP. Access 2000 and 2003 versions are also available upon request. The upgrade route from LIMA 2000 or LIMA 4 involves data migration which ADS-Limathon can provide upon request.