Introducing QMS Document Control for LabCollector

Laboratories operating under quality frameworks face a common challenge: critical procedures, SOPs, policies, forms, and work instructions are often scattered across multiple systems. Managing approvals, revisions, training acknowledgements, and audit readiness becomes a manual and time-consuming process.

With LabCollector v6.34, we are introducing a major new capability: the QMS Document Control Extension, integrated directly into the LabCollector Documents module. This new feature helps organizations manage controlled quality documentation while maintaining full traceability and compliance inside the same platform used for laboratory operations. Read the QMS docs →

Why Document Control Matters

Whether your laboratory follows ISO 17025, ISO 15189, GLP, GMP, CAP, or internal quality procedures, document control is a cornerstone of compliance.

Quality documents must be:

• Version controlled
• Reviewed and approved
• Distributed to the right personnel
• Periodically reviewed
• Traceable during inspections and audits

Traditional file-sharing systems can store documents, but they rarely provide the governance required by quality management programs.

The new QMS Document Control Extension transforms LabCollector from a document repository into a controlled quality documentation platform.

Built Directly Into LabCollector Documents

Rather than requiring a separate QMS application, the extension leverages the existing Documents module and adds the controls needed for regulated environments.

Teams can continue storing SOPs, policies, manuals, methods, forms, and quality records in LabCollector while benefiting from dedicated quality workflows.

This approach keeps quality documentation close to the operational data already managed in LabCollector, reducing duplication and improving user adoption.

Key Features

Document Revisions and Version History

Every controlled document can now maintain a complete revision history.

Benefits include:

• Full traceability of changes
• Historical document retention
• Easy comparison between revisions
• Clear identification of the current approved version

This ensures that laboratory staff always access the correct version while preserving an auditable record of previous releases.

Review and Approval Workflows

Quality documents typically require review and approval before release.

The QMS extension introduces structured workflows that help organizations:

• Assign reviewers
• Designate approvers
• Track review status
• Ensure documents are formally released before use

This eliminates informal approval processes and creates clear accountability for document ownership.

User Acknowledgements and Read Confirmations

One of the most challenging aspects of quality management is proving that personnel have read and understood updated procedures.

The new extension provides:

• Read acknowledgements
• Confirmation tracking
• Visibility into document distribution

Quality managers can quickly verify who has acknowledged a document and identify users requiring follow-up.

Scheduled Reviews

Quality systems require periodic review of controlled documents to ensure content remains accurate and current.

LabCollector now supports:

• Scheduled review dates
• Review tracking
• Identification of documents approaching expiration

This helps prevent outdated procedures from remaining active and reduces the risk of compliance findings.

Improved Audit Readiness

Audits often involve requests such as:

• Show the current approved SOP
• Provide revision history
• Demonstrate approval records
• Verify staff acknowledgement

The new QMS Document Control Extension centralizes these records and makes them readily available during inspections and quality audits.

The result is faster preparation, improved traceability, and greater confidence during compliance reviews.

Designed for Growing Laboratories

The extension is suitable for a wide range of organizations, including:

• Biotechnology companies
• Pharmaceutical laboratories
• Academic core facilities
• Clinical and diagnostic laboratories
• Contract research organizations (CROs)
• Quality-controlled manufacturing environments

For laboratories transitioning from spreadsheets, shared folders, or paper-based quality systems, the extension provides a practical path toward digital quality management.

One More Step Toward a Unified Lab Platform

At LabCollector, our goal is to reduce the number of disconnected systems laboratories need to manage.

By bringing document control capabilities directly into the platform, laboratories can now manage:

• Inventory
• Samples
• Equipment
• Research data
• Electronic notebooks
• Quality documentation

From a single environment.

The new QMS Document Control Extension is a significant step toward a more integrated and compliant laboratory ecosystem.

Available Now

The QMS Document Control Extension is available with LabCollector v6.34 and provides laboratories with a powerful new set of tools for managing controlled documentation, approvals, training acknowledgements, document reviews, and audit preparation.

Ready to modernize your quality documentation workflow? Contact the LabCollector team to learn how the QMS extension can help your organization strengthen compliance while simplifying day-to-day document management.