labkey lims software cloud based secure compliant wheel wedges say assay data management sample management automated workflows storage management electronic lab notebook reporting and visualizations

Home > Products > LIMS Software > Environmental and Water LIMS

LIMS for Environmental and Water Testing Labs That Need Complete Traceability

LabKey’s environmental and water LIMS configures to the matrices, methods, and reporting requirements of environmental and water testing labs.

A gap anywhere in that chain, a missed hold time, an unlinked QA/QC batch, an untracked custody transfer, is enough to make a result indefensible, no matter how accurate your underlying data is. LabKey LIMS keeps that chain intact, chain of custody, hold time status, and QA/QC records connected from sample receipt through final export, all in one system.

The environmental LIMS built for results you can trust

Complete sample traceability from field intake through every result and export
Chain of custody, hold time, and QA/QC records kept together and audit-ready whenever inspection calls for it
Custody transfers logged automatically, with hold time deadlines tracked per sample and flagged before they expire
Method-specific QA/QC configured and tracked per batch, flagged before it reaches the data package
Sample, instrument, and QA/QC data unified in one system and accessible by every needed role without switching tools
QC flags tied back to the specific analyte and run that triggered them with room to document the rationale

Configures to the matrices, methods, and instruments your lab runs

Hold time dashboard
Method-specific QA/QC
Chain of custody
Exportable audit logs
Sample accessioning & barcoding
Guided protocol execution
Sampling & monitoring locations
Instrument data capture
Integrated ELN
Data visualization
Drinking water
Groundwater
Surface water
Wastewater & effluent
Saline/estuarine
Soil & sediment
Solid waste, sludge & leachate
Air & emissions
Tissue & wipe
VOCs & SVOCs
Metals
Pesticides & PCBs
Ion analysis

Environmental testing workflows configured to your lab's protocols

Full Traceability From Field Sample to Reported Result

One connected record for each sample collected, with a full history tracked through its lifecycle and after

LabKey LIMS connects every parent sample, aliquot, prep, and derived result in one lineage view
Trace any result back to the field sample that produced it. Trace any field sample forward to every result it produced
Context stays intact as your samples move across labs, instruments, or storage locations
The system tracks relationships automatically as you split, prep, or transform samples, with no manual re-entry

Book a Demo

lineage screenshot for grab sample in environmental lims

chain of custody and audit log filtered to user and dates needed for grab sample

Chain of Custody, Logged and Timestamped Automatically

LabKey LIMS logs every custody transfer, status change, and location move, with timestamps and user logs automatically tracked.

The system timestamps and attributes each entry to the user who made it
You get a full, filterable and searchable custody history for every sample, ready to export the moment an inspection or audit calls for it
Nothing depends on staff remembering to log a transfer. LabKey LIMS captures it as it happens

Book a Demo

Instrument Results Linked to the Sample at Import

Matrix results link to the right samples automatically, no manual re-entry required

Data import means assay results link directly to the originating sample, with missing or out-of-range entries caught right away
Custom views and calculated columns turn raw results into reports
Calculated fields flag results against your matrix limits automatically, no manual comparison needed
Every result traces back to the specific instrument run and samples that produced it, so a metals result and a VOC result on the same sample stay tied to one record

Book a Demo

coliform assay runs over time in microbiology assay run panel

Hold Time and QA/QC Status, Tracked per Sample

See hold time and QA/QC status by sample in a dashboard, configured to your methods and requirements

LabKey LIMS flags samples nearing their hold time, like a VOC sample closing in on its 14-day window
The same grid calculates QA/QC status per sample and surfaces it alongside hold time, so every at-risk sample across your workload is visible on one screen, no separate report to dig through
Define the hold time and QA/QC criteria by method, sample type, and/or client

Book a Demo

Learn more about LIMS for Environmental and Water Testing:

Explore our resources:

Best LIMS for Regulated Midsize Labs in 2026

Learn more

Finding the Right LIMS Software Provider

Learn more

What a Wastewater LIMS Does for Your Lab’s Workflows

Learn more

Environmental and Water LIMS FAQs

Frequently asked questions about LabKey's environmental LIMS capabilities

Yes. LabKey LIMS treats each matrix, drinking water, groundwater, wastewater, soil, sediment, air, tissue, as a configurable sample type. You track every matrix your lab tests in one system, without switching between separate tools per matrix.

LabKey LIMS logs each custody transfer, status change, and location move automatically on the sample's timeline. Every entry gets a timestamp and the name of the user who made it, so you have a complete, defensible custody record from field collection through final result.

Yes. You set an expiration date on each sample, and LabKey LIMS flags samples nearing that deadline before it passes. A built-in report surfaces everything expiring soon, so you catch hold time issues before they become a defensibility problem.

Yes. Whether you're running a water quality method or a soil extraction method, you configure acceptance criteria per method using guide sets, and LabKey LIMS flags results automatically when they fall outside your defined range. Data stays in a pending QC state until a QC analyst reviews and approves it, so out-of-spec results can't move downstream unnoticed.

Yes. LabKey LIMS logs sample, assay, workflow, and security events in a dedicated audit log, and your custody history lives on the sample's own timeline. You export either record to Excel or text whenever a state inspection, client audit, or data package request calls for it.

LIMS for Environmental and Water Testing Labs That Need Complete Traceability

The environmental LIMS built for results you can trust

Configures to the matrices, methods, and instruments your lab runs

Environmental testing workflows configured to your lab's protocols

Full Traceability From Field Sample to Reported Result

One connected record for each sample collected, with a full history tracked through its lifecycle and after

Chain of Custody, Logged and Timestamped Automatically

LabKey LIMS logs every custody transfer, status change, and location move, with timestamps and user logs automatically tracked.

Instrument Results Linked to the Sample at Import

Matrix results link to the right samples automatically, no manual re-entry required

Hold Time and QA/QC Status, Tracked per Sample

See hold time and QA/QC status by sample in a dashboard, configured to your methods and requirements

Learn more about LIMS for Environmental and Water Testing:

Explore our resources:

Environmental and Water LIMS FAQs

Can LabKey's environmental and water LIMS handle multiple sample matrices in one system?

How does LIMS track chain of custody for environmental and water samples?

Can LabKey's environmental LIMS track hold times for water and soil samples before they expire?

Can QA/QC acceptance criteria be configured per method for water and soil testing?

Can LabKey LIMS export a chain-of-custody and audit trail record for a state inspection or data package request?