LRN Results Messenger and LIMS Integration
Overview
The Laboratory Response Network (LRN) is a coordinated network of public health and other laboratories for which
CDC provides standard assays and protocols for testing biological and chemical terrorism agents. LRN Results
Messenger (LRN RM) was created to provide LRN laboratories with the ability to manage and share standard laboratory
results data securely with public health partners. LRN RM represents the first step in an incremental approach to
providing full standards-based electronic data exchange for this vital laboratory network. While the application is
not intended as a substitute for a fully-functional laboratory information management system (LIMS), it is important
for all LRN laboratories to be prepared.
The LIMS Integration (LIMSi) project is a parallel effort to LRN RM. It represents the next generation of the
incremental approach to data exchange for the LRN. Its purpose is to enable laboratories to fulfill data exchange
needs for the LRN using their own systems. LIMSi is currently facilitating collaborative efforts between CDC and
public health laboratory subject matter experts to refine system requirements needed to configure LIMS to manage
LRN testing. The LIMSi project is also creating a constrained version of the PHIN Laboratory Generic message guide
that specifically targets the messaging and data mapping needs for the LRN.
