Development of a data management system for ELISPOT assay in immunological research.

Clinical immune researches often need data management systems for tracking sample and test data like conventional laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and for managing experiment raw data as well. The enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay has been a primary means in immunological researches (such as HIV-specific T cell response). A typical ELISPOT reader usually generates a huge amount of data, including spot number and well image. Assay protocols and study documents are also needed to be circulated easily within a large scale study involved multiple laboratories. Here, a data management system for ELISPOT, elispotDM, is developed for managing samples, experiment data, assay protocols and study documents in clinical immune research. Besides, the Web-based database system will be definitely benefit to data sharing among broad research communities.