Sample Management

SciCord ELN features an integrated, comprehensive Sample Management capability.  Samples are managed throughout a controlled lifecycle as they are received, stored, dispersed, tested, reviewed, approved, and discarded.  Benefits of SciCord ELN Sample Management include:

• Configurable Sample Attributes to correctly identify the different types of samples in your organization.
• Effective Sample Search and display
• Effective relationships between Samples, Notebooks and Results
• Controlled Sample lifecycle
• Automated Label generation including Barcodes
• Sample inventory
• Sample custody for controlled substances
• Reports
• Manage Sample Workload – what needs to be done, when it needs to get done and who is responsible.

A sample’s lifecycle flows from creation to completion, and can vary depending on the level of oversight necessary. For informal testing or method development, samples can be created and used in documents quickly by one person.

For samples that require a greater degree of accountability, they can be reviewed before use in an experiment document by one or more supervisors. If necessary, they can also be reviewed before final approval/completion after they have been through the experiment.

Manage internal or external samples with configured sample types to define the different types of samples across your organization. Samples may be created either within ELN or may be received from an external sample management system.  Each Sample is identified by a set of attributes and is assigned a unique ID.  Labels may be generated to facilitate tracking and association with notebook documentation

Track your samples using personalized “Sample Views” which easily display the samples associated with a specific project, workgroup, or other sample filter parameter.

Between sample creation and final approval, a user with a specific set of permissions will be able to create and edit the necessary attributes of a Sample.

These sample attributes can be used to globally search the Sample database for samples that meet certain criteria. Attributes can include: sample type, creator, status, initial or current amount, location, parent sample, hazard warnings, comments, etc.

Track the usage of a Sample throughout its lifecycle by viewing the Sample Inventory within SciCord ELN. The Sample Inventory manages requests and transactions for the Sample and calculates the current amount of Sample remaining.

The Sample Inventory tracking includes standard attributes such as: the unique Sample ID, Initial and Current Amount, the Date an Event occurred, they type of event (transaction), Analyst, and any Comments related to the Sample.

Manage sample workload by associating Work Requests with samples.  A Work Request can specify:

• What needs to be done – define a task or testing
• How to do the task – reference a method or process to apply to the task
• Schedule the task – start date, completion date
• Who is responsible – select the group or person(s)

Personalized task views allow a scientist to see what work needs to be done, a supervisor can view and juggle task assignment for a workgroup, or a stability coordinator can manage a protocol or study.