Helix spent years designing highly customized NGS workflows in their old informatics system. Our intuitive BPMN workflow configuration allowed them to translate every workflow into Labbit in a fraction of the time.
Helix is a leading population genomics and viral surveillance company using its Sequence Once, Query Often™ model to deliver genetic insights that improve patient care and public health.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Helix’s on-premises LIMS struggled to scale with PCR testing demand. LIMS expert Tyler Cassens sought a more scalable solution to meet immediate and future needs.
Tyler turned to Semaphore, a long-time partner, to explore Labbit, Semaphore’s next-generation laboratory informatics solution. Labbit was designed to address the core limitations of traditional LIMS systems by offering a cloud-based platform that could scale seamlessly with increased sample volumes and adapt to the dynamic needs of modern laboratories.
Unlike traditional systems, which often require rigid programming to customize workflows, Labbit uses intuitive Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) technology to allow labs to model and adjust complex workflows with ease. The ability to visually design workflows and adjust them quickly was a major advantage for Helix, especially as they dealt with fluctuating demand during the pandemic.
Additionally, Labbit’s graph database architecture allowed for greater flexibility, ensuring that Helix could continuously adapt its data models to keep pace with evolving laboratory processes. Beyond just workflow management, Labbit’s entity-centric design and seamless integration with laboratory instruments, business systems, and other technologies meant that Helix could consolidate operations into one unified system, reducing the need for multiple disparate solutions and improving overall efficiency.
Reduced workflow implementation time from years to days with Labbit’s intuitive BPMN technology.
Labbit’s automation and parallel processing reduced task times from 20 minutes to under 5, enabling faster, more accurate sample processing at scale—critical for meeting physician-ordered testing demands.
Labbit’s cloud-based platform eliminated on-premises maintenance, freeing IT resources, reducing infrastructure costs, and delivering scalable, reliable performance.
Reduced workflow implementation time from years to days with Labbit’s intuitive BPMN technology.
Labbit’s automation and parallel processing reduced task times from 20 minutes to under 5, enabling faster, more accurate sample processing at scale—critical for meeting physician-ordered testing demands.
Labbit’s cloud-based platform eliminated on-premises maintenance, freeing IT resources, reducing infrastructure costs, and delivering scalable, reliable performance.
“That’s what stood out when evaluating Labbit—that this LIMS could finally achieve all of our needs with one solution.”
Helix’s legacy system was struggling to keep up with the increasing volume of samples required for rapid COVID-19 testing. Despite years of customization and support from Semaphore, the system’s monolithic infrastructure was simply not built to handle the scale necessary to process 100,000 samples per day. This led to delays in test results and inefficiencies across the workflow.
“We wanted to be cloud-based and be looking ahead for the next decade rather than stuck in a platform that was built ages ago, and behaved like it was built ages ago.” - Tyler Cassens, Senior Product Manager, Helix
Labbit addressed these challenges by offering a flexible, cloud-based platform capable of scaling to meet the growing demand. The shift to a cloud environment not only alleviated the burden on IT but also provided a more reliable and high-performance solution that could handle the high-volume testing needs during the pandemic and beyond.
Helix’s NGS workflows were intricate, involving automated liquid handling, rework paths, and advanced optimization algorithms. The legacy system required years of custom backend development to model these workflows, leading to slow adaptations and costly reprogramming. Labbit’s use of BPMN technology allowed Helix to quickly model and modify these workflows in a user-friendly, visual format. This reduced the time and resources needed to implement changes, and it simplified ongoing workflow adjustments as new testing requirements emerged.
The genomics and diagnostics landscape is continuously evolving, and Helix needed a LIMS that could support this constant change. Many traditional LIMS systems are rigid and difficult to modify, requiring extensive programming to accommodate new requirements. Labbit, built on a graph database, was designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing Helix to capture new types of data and integrate with evolving laboratory technologies without disruption.
This adaptability ensured that Helix could respond quickly to shifts in their business focus, such as expanding into clinical diagnostics and pharmacogenomics, without being constrained by their LIMS.
Labbit’s entity-centric design proved to be a major benefit for Helix. With Labbit, they could manage everything from samples and reagents to personnel and assays in one integrated system, eliminating the need for multiple disparate systems. This all-in-one approach streamlined operations, reduced complexity, and lowered the risk of errors. It also provided a unified view of laboratory activities, improving decision-making and operational oversight.
“That’s what stood out when evaluating Labbit—that this LIMS could finally achieve all of our needs with one solution.” - Tyler Cassens, Senior Product Manager, Helix
As Helix scaled their operations to meet the surge in demand for COVID-19 testing, performance became a critical factor. Labbit’s ability to process workflows in parallel allowed Helix to handle large volumes of samples without sacrificing accuracy or efficiency. With Labbit, tasks that once took up to 20 minutes were completed in under 5 minutes, drastically improving throughput and reducing technician workload. This performance boost was crucial as Helix transitioned back to clinical diagnostics and pharmacogenomics, where fast turnaround times are essential for patient care.
“Right now the performance is what stands out the most to the end user. You’re able to process samples through the workflow in a fraction of the time compared to other systems. From logging in to completing a workbook, every click matters when you are processing tens of thousands of samples within a given shift. Labbit simplifies everything for the operator allowing them to turn their focus where it belongs: on their bench work." - Tyler Cassens, Senior Product Manager, Helix
Helix’s transition to Labbit underscores the importance of having a LIMS that can adapt to changing needs and scale with growth. The ability to quickly adjust workflows, integrate with new instruments, and manage high sample volumes ensures that Helix can continue to innovate and expand without being held back by their technology. In the rapidly evolving fields of genomics and diagnostics, staying ahead of technological advancements is key to success.
The improved performance and reduced turnaround times provided by Labbit have significant implications for patient care. In clinical diagnostics, where time is critical, Labbit’s efficiency allows Helix to process and deliver test results faster than ever before. This improved speed not only enhances laboratory productivity but also contributes to better patient outcomes, particularly in areas like pharmacogenomics, where timely testing is crucial for personalized treatments.
“Moving into physician ordered testing, there’s more of an onus on turnaround time as a result. Knowing there’s a patient waiting on it. It becomes crucial to be able to move a sample through a workflow and still achieve high accuracy. Labbit allows us to process all these different complex workflows in parallel and do it at scale which has been a challenge with other platforms.” - Tyler Cassens, Senior Product Manager, Helix
The shift to a cloud-based system like Labbit not only improved operational efficiency but also allowed Helix to offload IT maintenance and infrastructure management. This reduced the strain on Helix’s IT team and led to cost savings, enabling the company to focus its resources on innovation and research rather than system upkeep.
Looking ahead, Helix’s decision to adopt Labbit is setting them up for future growth and success. The platform’s flexibility, scalability, and user-friendly design make it well-suited to handle the complexities of genomics and diagnostics as the industry continues to evolve. With Labbit in place, Helix is confident that they can continue to innovate, quickly adapt to new requirements, and stay ahead in a competitive and fast-paced field.
When labs select a laboratory information management system (LIMS), they typically consider the documented list of features and benefits
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