Bar code labelling for laboratory safety management and experiment planning in plant protection

A simple and reliable logging system has been developed in order to allow online, mobile gathering of data and information on all the components of experimental trials with micro and macroorganisms (biocontrol agents, plant pathogens, insects, etc.) and other experimental items in agriculture. The system named LExMaS (Laboratories Experiments and Management Safety) optimizes management of experiments and traceability of data. It is suited to small and medium size research centres or R&D companies. This system particularly fits with research activities in microbiology and plant protection as well as in other related subjects. It is based on Bar Code reading and can be used to catalogue microorganisms and chemical products, to plan experiments, to collect data and to manage equipment and safety in labs. The system consists of two elements: a desktop version and a mobile version (based on a wireless, mobile Bar Code reader and logger); they are interconnected by a network. The system is multilingual, with the possibility to select the preferred language among English, French, German and Italian. The wireless architecture and the handy data-loggers allow portability and reduction of costs with long term benefits simplifying safety procedures in labs and guaranteeing data traceability and reproducibility of trial methodology.