Set Up the Preparation Sheet

The preparation sheet serves as the starting point for the preparation for analysis in AssayNet LIMS. It includes all sample IDs for a sample batch, along with the assigned sample products. You can attach required preparation QC, such as preparation duplicates, which can be set either manually or automatically through a preparation template. The preparation sheet can also be configured to use any available prep templates when necessary.

Additionally, users can view tray breaks for the sample batch and manually add or remove them as needed. This activity describes how to modify different display options for the preparation sheet in the sample batch, and explains the various options available to customize and manage the process efficiently.

Activity Steps

1. To open the preparation sheet:
   1. On the Sample Batches page, select the required sample batch.

   2. Click Setup.

      The Samples screen displays with the sample batch code display in the top-left corner.

2. To modify display options in the preparation sheet:

   1. In the Display category group, select from:

      • Samples—The default display when the preparation sheet is open. The preparation sheet table shows the Sample ID, Sample Type, Prep Code and Status.

      • Products—The Product for each sample in the sample batch is displayed in the preparation sheet table.

      • Storage—The Location and Container for each sample are displayed in the preparation table.

   2. To modify how the Sample ID is displayed, in the Sample Labels category group, select from:

      • Lab ID—The Lab ID is the unique identifier for each sample, combining the batch code and its sequence number as listed in the table.

      • Client ID—The Client ID is the name assigned by the client to each sample in the batch. It is also the default column used for the sample ID when the preparation sheet is opened.

   3. To sort the order of the sample IDs in the preparation sheet, in the Sorting category group, select from:

      • Line—Sorts the rows based on the Line column in ascending order, starting from 1 and proceeding sequentially to the last sample in the preparation sheet.

      • Sample ID—This option reverses the order displayed when sorted by the Line column.

3. To select a different preparation template:

   Note: A preparation template can be assigned during creation by selecting the Prep Code. The Prep Code defines the type of preparation required for each sample batch, and new Prep Templates can be created and linked to a specific Prep Code. Once a Prep Code is assigned to a project, it will automatically apply to all samples associated with that project. For samples that already have a project assigned, you do not need to manually select the Prep Code when logging them into the system. For more information, see Add a Preparation Template.

   If a different template is used, the client job attached to the samples batched must be deleted and re-created. For more information, see Create a New Client Job.

   1. In the Templates category group, select Use Template.

   2. Select the required Template. Only templates assigned to the prep code for the sample batch are selectable.

   3. To select all available Templates, click Show All Templates.

   4. Click Create

      An AssayNet LIMS warning message displays if the sample batch has one or more client job attached.

4. To manually modify the tray break:

   Note: Trays are divisions in the preparation sheet of a sample batch, used to create tray breaks when a batch contains too many samples to be processed at once. For example, if fire assay ovens can hold only 24 samples, you may divide a large batch into trays of 24 samples to create laboratory jobs accordingly. Tray breaks are visible in the preparation sheet on the Sample Batches page. The tray breaks can be pre-configured in the Preparation Template for all Prep Codes. For more information, see Add a Preparation Template. Once a new tray break is inserted, the Rack Line Column displays how the samples in the batch are split. You can see the exact number of samples to be included in each laboratory job, as the rack numbering restarts after a tray break.

   1. Click the column right to the Line column to select where you want to add or remove a tray break.

   2. Click Insert Tray Break icon to insert a tray break.

   3. Click Remove Tray Break icon to remove a tray break.

5. To change the position of a sample in the table:

   1. Click the column right to the Line column to select the sample.

   2. Click the Move Sample Up icon to move the sample up.

   3. Click the Move Sample Down icon to move the sample down.

      Note: Changes to the sorting of the samples must also be made in each of the client jobs that the samples are assigned to.

6. To manually add or remove QC preparation samples:

   Note: Preparation QCs are also configured in the preparation template and are added to the preparation sheet for the sample number that was configured.

   1. Click the column right of the Line column to select the sample.

   2. On the sample list to the left, click the Split tab.

      The preparation QC duplicates display.

   3. Select the QC duplicate required and click the Add Item icon to add it as a duplicate of the selected sample.

   4. Repeat steps 6 a-c to add additional QC duplicates.

   5. To remove a QC duplicate, select it and click the Remove Item icon.