Modern laboratories are under constant pressure to deliver faster results, maintain strict compliance, and manage growing testing complexity without compromising accuracy. In this environment, technology is no longer just a support system behind the scenes; it has become a critical part of how laboratories operate, scale, and build trust with providers and patients alike. What laboratories need today is not another complicated software platform, but a smarter, more connected solution that simplifies operations while giving teams greater visibility, control, and confidence at every stage of the testing process.
That is where LIMS IQ is making a meaningful impact. Built for modern clinical and specialty laboratories, LIMS IQ delivers a powerful cloud-based LIS platform designed to streamline everything from order management and accessioning to specimen tracking, instrument connectivity, reporting, and secure portal delivery. Formerly known as LIMSABC, the company evolved into LIMS IQ to reflect a broader vision centered on intelligent automation, deeper analytics, and a more connected laboratory experience.
What sets LIMS IQ apart is its ability to combine the clinical strength of a traditional LIS with the operational depth often associated with advanced LIMS platforms. Its configurable workflows, strong sample lineage, chain-of-custody visibility, quality controls, and seamless integrations help laboratories reduce manual work, improve turnaround times, strengthen compliance, and scale efficiently as testing demands grow. Supporting specialties ranging from toxicology and molecular diagnostics to NGS, public health, and biorepositories, LIMS IQ continues to help laboratories operate smarter, faster, and with greater precision.
CIO Bulletin had the privilege of interviewing Skye Shearer, CEO of LIMS IQ. She shared powerful insights into how the platform enables facilities to operate with greater speed and control, freeing laboratory teams to focus on what matters most: delivering accurate results that strengthen patient care.
Interview Highlights
What inspired the founding of LIMS IQ, and what key challenges in clinical laboratory operations did you set out to solve from day one?
From the beginning, our goal was to create a unified cloud-based platform that could bridge the gap between traditional Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). We wanted to eliminate the need for laboratories to manage multiple disconnected solutions while providing the flexibility to support everything from physician office labs to large specialty and reference laboratories. We also recognized the growing need for automation, real-time visibility, and specialty-specific workflows. LIMS IQ was designed to simplify operations, improve turnaround times, enhance compliance readiness, and ultimately help laboratories focus more on patient outcomes and less on administrative complexity.
Can you walk us through the core products and services that LIMS IQ offers today, and how they address the diverse needs of clinical laboratories ranging from small POLs to high-complexity specialty labs?
LIMS IQ offers a comprehensive suite of cloud-based laboratory informatics solutions designed to support laboratories of all sizes and specialties. Our platform includes robust LIS/LIMS functionality, patient portal (LIMS IQ Connect), mobile app (LIMS IQ Reach) and also a compact lite version of our current product to assist in POLs (LIMS IQ Lite). Our platform adapts to these diverse operational needs through configurable workflows, scalable infrastructure, and specialty-driven modules. Laboratories can automate accessioning, sample tracking, reporting, compliance documentation, and integrations with EMRs, billing systems, and laboratory instruments all within a single ecosystem.
LIMS IQ Lite offers a streamlined, fixed-price solution for physician office labs and smaller teams. How has this product addressed the unique needs of smaller laboratories while maintaining professional-grade capabilities?
LIMS IQ Lite was specifically designed to serve smaller laboratories that need enterprise-grade functionality without the complexity or cost typically associated with traditional laboratory systems. Smaller labs often face budget constraints, lean staffing models, and limited IT resources. Many existing solutions in the market are either too expensive or overly complicated for their operational needs. LIMS IQ Lite solves this by offering a simplified, fixed-price model with rapid deployment and intuitive workflows. Despite its streamlined approach, the platform still delivers the critical capabilities laboratories require to operate efficiently and compliantly.
Your platform uniquely bridges traditional LIS and LIMS capabilities in one cloud-based system. What makes this unified approach particularly powerful for modern laboratories?
Traditionally, laboratories have had to choose between systems focused on clinical reporting and systems designed for operational laboratory management. This separation often creates inefficiencies, duplicate processes, and integration challenges. LIMS IQ removes that divide by combining LIS and LIMS functionality into a single cloud-native platform. This unified approach enables laboratories to manage the full testing lifecycle — from order entry and specimen tracking to analytics, reporting, billing, and compliance — without switching between multiple systems.
The laboratory industry continues to face rising demands around compliance, scalability, and faster turnaround times. How does LIMS IQ help laboratories excel in specialties such as toxicology, molecular diagnostics, NGS, and public health?
Specialty laboratories operate in highly demanding environments where precision, compliance, and scalability are essential. LIMS IQ was built to support these advanced workflows through automation, configurable testing pipelines, and specialty-specific capabilities. In areas such as toxicology and molecular diagnostics, laboratories often manage high sample volumes, complex testing protocols, and strict chain-of-custody requirements. Our platform helps streamline these processes through automated workflows, intelligent routing, instrument integrations, and customizable reporting tools. For NGS and advanced molecular workflows, scalability and data management are especially important. LIMS IQ enables laboratories to efficiently track specimens, manage large datasets, maintain compliance standards, and integrate seamlessly with laboratory instruments and external systems.
With real-time analytics, instrument integrations, secure portals, and smart automation at the core of your platform, how is LIMS IQ transforming the day-to-day experience for lab staff, clinicians, and patients?
LIMS IQ is transforming laboratory operations by reducing manual tasks, improving transparency, and enabling smarter decision-making across the entire testing ecosystem. For laboratory staff, automation helps minimize repetitive administrative work, reduce errors, and accelerate workflows. Real-time dashboards and analytics provide visibility into operational performance, specimen status, turnaround times, and productivity metrics. Clinicians benefit from secure provider portals, faster access to results, and streamlined communication with laboratories. This allows healthcare providers to make more informed decisions quickly and improve patient care coordination. Patients also experience improved convenience through secure access to results, faster turnaround times, and more efficient communication channels.
What role do you envision LIMS IQ playing in the future of laboratory medicine as testing volumes grow and expectations for interoperability and patient experience continue to rise?
We see LIMS IQ playing a central role in helping laboratories modernize and thrive in this evolving environment. Our focus is on delivering flexible, interoperable solutions that simplify complexity and enable laboratories to scale confidently. We also believe patient experience will become an even more important priority. Laboratories are no longer operating behind the scenes — they are becoming an essential part of the broader digital healthcare journey. LIMS IQ is committed to supporting this transformation through secure access, real-time communication, and seamless integration across healthcare ecosystems.
Looking ahead, what is next for LIMS IQ? Are there any exciting new modules, specialty solutions, or major enhancements in the pipeline that clients and the industry should be particularly excited about?
Looking ahead, we are focused on enhancing automation, advanced analytics, interoperability, and AI-driven workflow optimization. We are also investing in specialty-focused solutions designed to support rapidly evolving areas such as molecular diagnostics, precision medicine, and high-volume reference testing.
The Visionary Behind LIMS IQ’s Success
Skye Shearer is the CEO of LIMS IQ, where she leads the company’s mission to modernize laboratory operations through innovative cloud-based LIS and LIMS solutions. Since joining LIMS IQ in 2022, Skye has played a key role in driving the company’s growth, operational strategy, and commitment to delivering scalable technology solutions for clinical laboratories.
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