AnIMLs in from the wild: XML standards at LGC

A research and development (R&D) team at LGC is aimed to study the use of analytical information mark-up language (AnIML )in laboratories. The team choose model workflow that covered multiple techniques such as LC-MS, UV, and IR. In order to evaluate the feasibility of the AnIML data format from their perspective and their customers, real data was produced for a typical reference material. A significant amount of effort was focused on adapting the draft AnIML technique definition to allow all the necessary information to be captured for the LC-MS data. The large volume of data produced by an LC-MS experiment presented an additional challenge when attempting to extract the raw data as the newer, accurate mass spectrometer instruments can create up to 1 GB per hour of operation. AnILM being human readable in an XML text based format will allow LGC to chare and preserve data in the long term without relying on expensive vendor specific software.