Specimen Storage - racks, locations, and assignment

Use Specimen Storage to set up racks and storage locations, then assign and remove specimens as they move through your lab. You can work manually or with a barcode scanner for faster, error‑reduced placement.

Note: Your lab should define SOPs for rack setup, storage durations, and removal/retention practices.

What you can configure

• Racks: Define capacity (rows/columns), code, and name (e.g., “Chemistry Rack 10x12”).
• Locations: Define where racks live (e.g., “Chemistry Fridge 1”) with descriptions such as temperature or specimen types.

📘 Instructions: Assign specimens

1. Click Tools (header dropdown).
2. Click Specimen Storage.
3. Use the Rack dropdown to choose a rack.
4. Manual assignment: Click an available cell (empty slot) to select it.
5. Scanner assignment: Click an available cell, then scan the specimen barcode to assign it to that slot.
6. Use filters to find the order associated with the sample.
7. Click the order to select it.
8. Click the Assign button (to place the selected specimen into the selected rack cell).
9. The specimen is now located in the rack (the cell shows the assigned specimen).

Tips

• Choose distinct rack codes/names to reduce selection errors.
• Use the scanner flow whenever possible to minimize misplacement.

📘 Instructions: Remove specimens

1. Open Specimen Storage (Tools → Specimen Storage).
2. Choose the rack from the Rack dropdown.
3. Select the target rack.
4. Click one or multiple specimens (Ctrl‑click for multi‑select).
5. Click the Remove Orders button on the grid
6. Confirm removal by clicking Update button.

Notes

• Follow your SOP for documenting disposal/return to storage.
• Removing a specimen frees the slot for reuse.
  

📘 Instructions: Create a specimen rack

1. Open Specimen Storage.
2. Click the Rack edit pencil icon.
3. Enter a unique Rack Code.
4. Name the rack (e.g., “Chemistry Rack 10x12”).
5. Set the configuration (Columns, Rows), e.g., Columns: 10; Rows: 12.
6. Add a description (e.g., “Chemistry rack opened 01/01/25”).
7. Click Add to save.

Best practice: Match rack dimensions to physical hardware; label shelves/rows to mirror the on‑screen grid.

📘 Instructions: Create a specimen location

1. Open Specimen Storage.
2. Click the Location edit pencil icon.
3. Enter a unique Location Code.
4. Name the location (e.g., “Chemistry Fridge 1”).
5. Add a description (temperature range, specimen types, access rules).
6. Click Add to save.

Tip: Keep names consistent across signage and the LIS to prevent confusion.

Best practices

• Mirror physical layout: Align on‑screen rows/columns with rack labeling to avoid placement errors.
• Use barcode scanning for assignment and movement wherever possible.
• Maintain clear codes/names for racks and locations; avoid duplicates.
• Periodically audit racks against the LIS to reconcile contents.
• Follow retention and disposal policies; document removals as required.