Resolving Data Integrity Challenges in Biotech

A biotech laboratory was preparing to deploy a new high-speed analyzer—a sophisticated, multi-functional piece of equipment integral to their operations. The system was designed to work seamlessly with their internal application, but after deployment, the lab encountered sporadic issues with data integrity. Some days, the system operated flawlessly; other days, it delivered incomplete or corrupted data, creating a significant challenge for the lab.

Identifying the Problem

The equipment vendor blamed the lab’s home-grown internal software, while the lab’s development team maintained that while their application might not be perfect in every way, they were 100% sure it was rock solid in this particular regard. With no resolution in sight, we were asked to investigate the issue and identify the root cause.

Analyzing the System

Our approach began with a thorough review of the integration between the lab’s application and the analysis system. We traced the flow of data and identified the points where errors might occur. Initial checks ruled out any generic causes such as network hardware issues, narrowing our focus to the analysis system itself.

During this process, we discovered that the system’s data communications actually leveraged a medical protocol developed by Siemens. To fully understand the complexities of this protocol in the given context, we sought input from a subject-matter expert (SME) with specialized knowledge in Siemens protocols and medical data standards.

Finding the Cause

With the SME’s help, we quickly pinpointed the issue: the analysis system occasionally deviated from the protocol, introducing an extra character in the data stream under certain conditions. This seemingly small inconsistency caused the data corruption the lab was experiencing.

The SME provided detailed documentation to explain the issue, supported by diagrams and data samples, and referenced specific aspects of the protocol standards. The findings were clear and conclusive.

Resolving the Issue

The vendor addressed the problem with a firmware update. While they did not explicitly acknowledge a flaw, the update resolved the issue, and no further data integrity problems occurred.

Key Takeaways

This experience highlighted the importance of a methodical, collaborative approach to problem-solving. By combining our technical analysis with input from a specialized expert, we were able to resolve a complex issue efficiently, ensuring the success of a critical project for the lab.