In terms of laboratory record-keeping, electronic systems are preferred because they: Response:

Question

Options

• ARequire less physical space than paper records
• BCan be easily altered without detection
• CEliminate the need for audit trails
• DAre more difficult to use than paper systems

• A
  73% (16)
• B
  5% (1)
• C
  5% (1)
• D
  18% (4)

Explanation

Electronic systems are preferred in laboratory record-keeping primarily because they require significantly less physical space - databases can store millions of records that would otherwise fill entire rooms of filing cabinets, making data retrieval faster and storage costs lower.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• B is incorrect - electronic systems are actually harder to alter without detection; they create automatic timestamps, user logs, and version histories that expose any changes, making them more tamper-evident than paper.
• C is incorrect - electronic systems don't eliminate audit trails; they typically enhance them, automatically logging who accessed or modified a record and when (this is a regulatory requirement in many lab settings, e.g., FDA 21 CFR Part 11).
• D is incorrect - ease of use is considered an advantage of electronic systems (search, sort, copy, share), not a drawback.

Memory tip: Think of electronic records as a "digital filing cabinet with a security camera" - less space, but more oversight. The phrase "less space, more trace" can help you remember that electronic systems save physical space while increasing accountability, not reducing it.

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