How AI in LIMS Reduces Manual Lab Work and Boosts Efficiency
What if some of your lab’s most repetitive tasks could be simplified with AI?
Searching for samples, updating records, and manually entering data can take up a surprising amount of time in a busy laboratory. What if some of that work could be as simple as typing in a question or uploading a document?
Lockbox LIMS now supports AI-powered capabilities designed to help with everyday laboratory tasks, from finding sample information using natural language to extracting patient and sample data from test requisition forms. These tools can help laboratory staff find information faster, reduce manual data entry, and spend less time navigating through the system.
These capabilities are possible because Lockbox LIMS is built on the Salesforce platform. That foundation gives laboratories access to Salesforce’s enterprise AI tools, including Agentforce and Prompt Builder, along with the security infrastructure Salesforce has developed to protect sensitive data. Rather than adding a separate AI product to your technology stack, labs can use these tools directly within the LIMS they already rely on.
Here are two examples of how AI tools available in Lockbox LIMS can be configured to support laboratory workflows.
Find Samples Faster with an AI-Powered LIMS Assistant
Agentforce Agents
Using the Agentforce Builder, system administrators can build, test, and deploy AI agents in Lockbox LIMS. Agentforce agents are built using low-code templates, work by processing real-time data with large language models (LLMs) to orchestrate flows and APIs, and strictly respect user permissions by operating under the context of the logged-in user. The Lockbox Sample Assistant is an example of an agent built to support lab technicians in finding samples and reviewing details like status and test results. This agent was configured by Third Wave Analytics using the Salesforce Agentforce Builder.
The Lockbox Sample Assistant allows users to interact with the system using natural language. Rather than navigating multiple screens or running complex searches, laboratory staff can simply ask questions like “Find all whole blood samples submitted today” or “Show me the test results for sample 994.” The AI assistant can quickly retrieve sample information, display test results, identify out-of-specification results, and even guide users through approved workflow updates with built-in confirmation steps to help protect data integrity.
Figure 1: Example of Lockbox LIMS Sample Assistant Built using Agentforce Builder
Natural-Language Search for Sample Status and Test Results
For laboratory staff, one of the biggest advantages of an AI assistant is the ability to interact with LIMS data in a more intuitive way. Instead of knowing exactly where information is stored or how to construct a particular search, users can ask for the information they need using everyday language.
This can be especially useful in laboratories managing large volumes of samples and data, where quickly locating the right record, status, or result can otherwise require several steps. Because the assistant operates within the user’s existing permissions, AI-powered access can complement established Lockbox LIMS security and workflow controls.
Automate Accessioning with AI Document Extraction
Prompt Builder
The Salesforce Prompt Builder is a low-code development workspace that allows users to build, test, and manage custom AI instructions (called “prompt templates”) directly inside Lockbox LIMS. When triggered, Prompt Builder acts as an orchestration layer. It compiles the template, dynamically injects the relevant record variables, and securely routes the finalized prompt to a foundational Large Language Model (LLM), giving laboratories the flexibility to choose from enterprise models created by OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google. Processing sensitive laboratory data through external LLMs requires strict security guardrails. Prompt Builder mitigates these risks by routing all transactions through the Einstein Trust Layer, which enforces strict technical security protocols including PII/PHI data masking and a zero retention guarantee to ensure external models never cache, log, or use your lab’s data for model training purposes.
Lockbox’s Accession with AI is an example of an AI tool powered by the Prompt Builder. This tool helps simplify accessioning by automatically extracting patient and sample information from uploaded PDF documents, such as test requisition forms (TRFs). Instead of manually entering data, users can review the AI-extracted information and import it directly into Lockbox LIMS, reducing transcription errors and saving valuable time.
Figure 2: Example of Lockbox LIMS Accession with AI Tool Powered by Prompt Builder
Reducing Manual Data Entry During Accessioning
Accessioning is an ideal example of where AI can support laboratory efficiency without removing human oversight. Information that previously needed to be manually transcribed from a requisition form can be extracted automatically and presented to the user for review.
Laboratory staff remain in control of the process: they can verify the extracted information before it is imported into Lockbox LIMS. This combination of automation and user review can help reduce repetitive data entry while maintaining an important verification step before information becomes part of the laboratory record.
Key Benefits of AI-Powered LIMS Tools for Laboratory Workflows
The goal of incorporating AI into a LIMS isn’t simply to add another technology to the laboratory. The greatest value comes from applying AI to specific, repetitive activities where it can make everyday work easier.
For laboratory teams, that can mean:
- Finding samples and laboratory information using natural-language questions
- Reducing the number of screens and searches required to locate information
- Quickly reviewing sample statuses and test results
- Identifying information that may require attention, such as out-of-specification results
- Extracting patient and sample information from documents
- Reducing repetitive manual data entry and potential transcription errors
- Maintaining user review and confirmation within AI-assisted workflows
These capabilities can also be configured around the needs of individual laboratories rather than requiring every organization to use AI in exactly the same way.
Bringing Practical AI Into Your Laboratory
AI is most valuable when it helps solve real, everyday challenges in the laboratory. The Lockbox Sample Assistant and Accession with AI are two examples of how AI-powered tools can simplify routine tasks, reduce manual work, and help laboratory staff work more efficiently while remaining in control of the process.
It’s time to explore how Lockbox LIMS can work for you and allow you to return your focus to science.