Sample Management (15)
Articles for general sample management
Proper biological sample management is integral to the accuracy and applicability of scientific studies, particularly in clinical trials. From the tools and instruments used to conduct the process as well as how the procedures are performed themselves, many interconnected factors can simplify biological sample management.
3 Important Features to Consider When Selecting a Sample Tracking Solution
Written by AzoYour laboratory information management system (LIMS) should be more than a simple sample management tool. It can be the key to effectively managing an array of different lab informatics, helping to preserve clinical data integrity, maximize resource efficiency, and ultimately reduce operational costs. Achieving these goals requires careful consideration of every facet of your sample tracking solution, beyond merely the LIMS software of choice. There are a range of products and services available that can dramatically enhance your ability to track and access samples, reducing human error and enhancing your overall efficiency. These tools range from sample tracking software to tube rack readers, as well as 2D barcode tubes encoded with reliable, uniquely identifying information.
Compound Management Systems that Address Your Lab’s Issues
Written by AzoCompound management isn’t what is used to be. Until the 1970s, most research laboratories deployed fairly primitive storage, tracking, and dispensing strategies. Labels were handwritten and tracking was carried out using physical logbooks, with little-to-no logistics to speak of. The advent of computing offered an alternative to this imperfect status quo and the eventual development of internet-based interconnectivity laid the groundwork for a paradigm shift in how chemical laboratories were managed for drug discovery workflows.
Top Tips for Biological Specimen Tube Selection & Labelling
Written by AzoBiological specimen tube selection and labeling is a critical part of maintaining the validity and reliability of test results. Read on to find out more.
Effective sample management underlies the reliability and validity of any research carried out in laboratory settings. The quality of your results is incumbent on the quality of your samples, which is—in turn—determined by the efficacy of your sample management workflow. You risk compromising valuable data if you do not collect samples carefully, or record and store them precisely.
The term sample management is used to describe an entire workflow comprising the selection, collection, storage, and retrieval of samples plus their relevant data. It is essential to achieve optimal process and quality control (QC) in the laboratory, and if any step in the sample management chain is overlooked, it can have costly ramifications.
Cryogenic storage vials are central to biological sample management, enabling researchers to retain numerous organic specimens at ultra-cool temperatures. Scientists around the globe have been using high-performance cryotubes for decades. In fact, they have been crucial in enabling the enormous capacity for storing irreplaceable samples that all biobanks enjoy today. Although evidently representing extreme value, the ability to store hundreds, thousands or even millions of biological specimens represents a challenge from an information management perspective.
Efficient sample management centres on the ability to rapidly identify specific samples in your workflow with ease. Prior to the widespread implementation of two-dimensional (2D) datamatrix barcodes on sample tubes, it was difficult to quickly and effectively select specific sample tubes from potentially hundreds – if not thousands, or even millions – of others.
Are you suddenly being asked to screen large numbers of Covid-19 samples? Not sure how best to track them? We can help you! Ziath has 15+ years’ experience in helping labs successfully track large numbers of incoming samples.
Five ways Samples software helps you to avoid sample data storage problems
Written by Neil Benn
Samples software is packed with a host of useful features that make recording, managing, and recalling sample data incredibly convenient.
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Common 2D barcode scanning problems (and how to prevent them)
Written by Neil Benn
While 2D barcodes offer excellent all-round performance, from time to time scanning issues do happen. Here we highlight some of the most commonly encountered scanning issues – and how to avoid them.
Installing a dedicated sample management system in your laboratory can offer numerous advantages in terms of increased efficiency and limitation of error due to misidentification. The ability to effectively track sample properties, locations, statuses, expiration, and other factors can be a powerful tool enabling your laboratory personnel to make good use of your sample repositories.
If you are a laboratory scientist with a large number of samples stored in freezers, which may be from many different projects and stored in multiple locations, then you will almost certainly have a huge amount of information at your disposal, and more often than not, this kind of data overload can feel overwhelming.
What you need is a system that has been tailored to your very needs, one that can collate all of this information in one easy to use, intuitive, and (perhaps most importantly) safely backed up system. This is where Samples comes in.
Push Caps or Screw Caps? – 5 things to consider
Written by Neil Benn
So – you have decided on what tube volume you need, what your labelling requirements are and where you are going to get them from and then you are faced with the question – “Do you want push caps or screw caps?”
