Standardization in Lab Automation: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Organization about biotech companies}}

{{No footnotes|date=August 2025}}

The '''consortium for Standardization in Lab Automation (SiLA)''' is a [[Non-profit organization|not-for-profit]] membership organization formed by software suppliers, system integrators and pharma/biotech companies. It develops and introduces new device and data interface standards allowing rapid integration of lab [[automation]] hardware and data management systems. Highly skilled experts of member companies contribute in SiLA's technical work groups. Membership is open for institutions, corporations and individuals active in the life science lab automation industry. The SiLA consortium provides professional training, support and certification services to suppliers and system integrators implementing SiLA compliant interfaces.

==Mission==

SiLA is the global initiative to standardize software interfaces in the field of life science research instrumentation, like [[Autosampler|autosamplers]]s, and [[laboratory automation]]. Instigated by the pharmaceutical industry's need for flexible laboratory automation, the initiative is supported by major device and software suppliers worldwide.

==Background==

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! Event

|-

| 2022 || Official [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CP_MTFmGZ89kkSfIXtPNQly97U1rcnuP/view SiLA 2 version 1.1] Release.

|-

| 2019 || Official [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QWrSD4-YBMwT9HTBzJe3TlBbJSGqq_LC/view SiLA 2 version 1.0] Release.

|-

| 2018 || Release Candidate of SiLA 2.

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By grouping devices of the same functionality device classes can be created. SiLA Common Command Sets define commands for these device classes. SiLA defines the command names, the number of parameters and their names as well as the return data. Since commands and parameters are described in the WSDL documentation tag of the commands web service, a process management software (PMS) can automatically generate a list available commands for each device.

SiLA has defined about 30 device classes and a command library with about 100 commands. Commands range from mandatory commands that are needed to make transitions in the state machine, over required commands for the specific device class, to optional commands for which not every device in the device class might provide the functionality. In addition guidelines for the implementation of supplier-specific device commands and parameters are provided.

Some commands are applicable for almost every device class. For example, the commands SetParameter, GetParameter, ExecuteMethod are widely used. Also PrepareForOutput and PrepareForInput are common because they enable the transport mechanisms to transfer labware items from device to device. The mandatory commands include operations like Reset, Initialize, Abort and Pause. In addition also locking a device for exclusive use is provided.

==Membership==

SiLA has formed a not-for-profit membership organisation. SiLA requires members to pay annual membership dues. Details on membership classes and related fees can be found [https://sila-standard.com/join-us/ here].

==Organisation structure==

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* [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bryn-roberts-685171_labautomation-robotic-autonomous-activity-6582897402808676353-b4TK Autonomous Robot running with SiLA]

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-LU1Tq7qYw Roche's Camunda-based AutoLab software]

* [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/elsc.202000053 Implementing a digital infrastructure for the lab using a central laboratory server and the SiLA2 communication standard, ''Engineering in Life Sciences'']

==Sources==

* [http://www.sila-standard.org/ SiLA homepage]

* [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CP_MTFmGZ89kkSfIXtPNQly97U1rcnuP/view SiLA 2 Specification version 1.1]

* [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QWrSD4-YBMwT9HTBzJe3TlBbJSGqq_LC/view SiLA 2 version 1.0]

* [https://gitlab.com/SiLA2/ SiLA 2 GitLab]

* [https://sila2.gitlab.io/sila_base/ Official SiLA 2 Documentation]