Processing a Job Scheme to Add QC Samples by Applying QC Masks

• Processing a Job Scheme to Add QC Samples by Applying QC Masks
  • Overview
  • Process
    • Determining which Job Schemes are Processed to Apply QC Masks
    • Determining the Order in which Job schemes are Processed to Apply QC Masks
    • Processing a Job Scheme to Add QC Samples by Applying QC Masks (for Registered or Laboratory Batch Jobs)
      • Determining which Sample Schemes are Included in the Process
      • Assigning QC Masks to Registered Sample Schemes
      • Assigning QC Masks to Laboratory Batch Sample Schemes
      • Processing QC Masks on the Sample Schemes
      • Registering Propagated QC Samples to Linked and Sequel Job Schemes
      • Registering the same QC Samples and Applying the same Rack Structure to any Linked Job Schemes
      • Set the flags to exclude the processed sample schemes from being used in another Append QC process

Overview

When Creating QC Samples using QC Masks, then the relevant job schemes are processed such that QC masks on related sample schemes are used to add QC samples to the job. This process outlines how this occurs.

Process

Determining which Job Schemes are Processed to Apply QC Masks

For a registered job, a job scheme's Include in Job QC must be selected for QC samples to be added to it using its associated sample schemes' QC masks. (Typically, those schemes that are batched for analysis do not have QC samples created within their registered job—the QC samples are created with the laboratory batch job when the scheme is batched.)

• When a job is copied, a destination job scheme's Include in Job QC defaults from the source job scheme.

• When Adding a Group of Samples to a Job and the registration of a sample scheme causes the creation of a job scheme, then the job scheme's Include in Job QC defaults from the inverse of the master scheme version's Batch Across Jobs. Where an org-scope sample scheme is registered using an org-scope scheme, then the master scheme is the org-scope scheme. Where a lab-scope sample scheme is registered using an org-scope scheme, then the master scheme is the enabled-scope scheme. Where a lab-scope sample scheme is registered using a lab-scope scheme, then the master scheme is the lab-scope scheme.

• A job scheme's Include in Job QC can also be updated by Maintaining Job Tests.

For a laboratory batch job, all laboratory batch job schemes are processed to add QC samples to the laboratory batch job using the sample schemes' QC masks.

Determining the Order in which Job schemes are Processed to Apply QC Masks

Job schemes are processed essentially in the job scheme's Registration Sequence. For a registered job, refer to Maintaining Job Tests to re-sequence schemes. However, whilst following job scheme sequence, the precursor and linked scheme relationships are observed.

Refer to The Determination of Job Scheme Processing Order.

Processing a Job Scheme to Add QC Samples by Applying QC Masks (for Registered or Laboratory Batch Jobs)

By definition, a precursor job scheme occurs earlier in the workflow that a sequel job scheme so can therefore propagate QC samples into a sequel job scheme.

By definition, linked job schemes share the same QC placement and rack layout. A scheme link relationship is comprised a from-scheme and a to-scheme where the from-scheme drives the creation and placement of QC samples and rack layout, and the to-scheme is given the same QC samples and rack layout.

• Where a scheme is a linked scheme and it is the from-scheme in that link, and the scheme has a precursor scheme, but the to-scheme in that link does not have the same precursor scheme, then a logical precursor scheme relationship is made between the to-scheme and the from-scheme's precursor scheme. For example, given:

  • ANAPREP is a precursor of ANA1A

  • Link from ANA1A to ANA1B

  then a logical precursor relationship is made between ANA1B and ANAPREP.

• Where a scheme is configured in conflicting flows, that is, the scheme is a linked scheme and it is the from-scheme in that link, and the to-scheme in that link is configured as the from-scheme's precursor scheme, then the scheme link relationship takes precedence over the precursor scheme relationship to define the precursor flow. For example:

  • ANAPREP is a precursor of ANA1A

  • Link from ANA1A to ANAPREP

  then ANA1A is deemed to be the precursor of ANAPREP. In this scenario, it is advisable that the schemes are configured appropriately.

When the registration of a sample scheme causes a job scheme to be created, then:

• Explicit precursor job scheme relationships are determined from the master scheme's precursor schemes. Refer to Maintaining Precursor Schemes for a Scheme.

• Implicit precursor job schemes are the sample preparation schemes on the job, that is, a sample preparation scheme is always deemed to be a precursor scheme of any analytical preparation or analytical scheme for this process, even if the precursor relationship has not been explicitly defined. This allows any QC sample that is created from a sample preparation scheme's QC mask, where the QC mask member is configured to propagate, to be created in all analytical preparation and analytical schemes in the job, without having the precursor relationships configured in the master scheme.

  Important: Even though a sample preparation job scheme is an implicit precursor scheme of any analytical preparation or analytical job scheme, the QC mask member must have Propagate selected for propagation to occur. This includes the placement of duplicate QC samples.

• Linked job scheme relationships are determined from the master scheme's linked scheme relationships. Refer to Maintaining Linked Schemes for a Scheme.

• Where a job scheme is registered by copying a job, the job scheme's scheme links are copied from the source job scheme. Where an org-scope sample scheme is registered using an org-scope scheme, or a lab-scope sample scheme is registered using an org-scope scheme, then the linked scheme and precursor scheme relationships are taken from the org-scope scheme. Where a lab-scope sample scheme is registered using a lab-scope scheme, then the linked scheme and precursor scheme relationships are taken from the lab-scope scheme.

Therefore, when job schemes are processed to add QC samples using QC masks on their sample schemes, they are processed in the following order, due to precursor-sequel scheme and linked scheme relationships:

• A sample preparation job scheme is processed before any analytical preparation job scheme or analytical job scheme (referred to as an 'implicit precursor job scheme').

  Note: If a job scheme has an implicit or explicit precursor job scheme, the job scheme is known as an implicit or explicit sequel job scheme—that is, looking forward along the precursor-sequel job scheme flow instead of looking back along the precursor-sequel job scheme flow.

• A precursor job scheme (using explicit precursor scheme relationships on the master scheme) is processed before any sequel job scheme (referred to as an 'explicit precursor job scheme').

  Note: If a job scheme has QC samples added during an add QC process and that job scheme has a sequel job scheme, then QC samples that are flagged for propagation are registered also to the sequel job scheme, regardless of the sequel job scheme's Include in Job QC check box setting.

• A linked-to job scheme is deemed to be processed when its linked-from job scheme is processed, and the linked-to job scheme has the same QC samples registered on it and rack layout as the linked-from job scheme.

A job scheme can potentially contain sample schemes that link to a different QC Mask Code. This allows the sample schemes in one group to have a different QC regime from the sample schemes in another group.

Example 1) Determining job scheme processing order - no explicit precursor schemes

Example 2) Determining job scheme processing order - explicit precursor schemes

Example 3) Determining job scheme processing order - explicit precursor schemes

Example 4) Determining job scheme processing order

Determining which Sample Schemes are Included in the Process

For a sample scheme to be included when QC samples are created for the job scheme:

• The sample's Include In Job QC must be selected.

  When a sample is registered, the sample's Include In Job QC is selected. Refer to Maintaining Samples.

• The sample scheme's Include in Job QC must be selected. By default, the flag is selected when a sample scheme is registered. This flag is unselected after a sample scheme has already been accounted for and used in a previous Append QC process. Therefore, newly registered samples or schemes can be included in an Append QC process without having the process considering samples schemes that have already had QC added for them.

  When a sample scheme is registered, the sample scheme's Include in Job QC defaults from the source sample scheme. This flag should NOT be updated by Maintaining Sample Tests as it is system-controlled, otherwise, there is the potential to 'double-dip' and create additional QC samples for a job scheme.

Assigning QC Masks to Registered Sample Schemes

When a job scheme is processed, each unique QC Mask Code on the associated sample schemes is used to generate QC samples for the related group of sample schemes. A job scheme can potentially contain sample schemes that link to a different QC Mask Code. This allows the sample schemes in one group to have a different QC regime from the sample schemes in another group.

• When an org-scope scheme is enabled for laboratory use, the enabled-scope scheme version record that is created inherits its QC Mask Code from the org-scope scheme version. The enabled-scope scheme version's QC Mask Code can be changed by personalising the CCSCHM—Scheme application.

• When Adding a Group of Samples to a Job and:

  • An org-scope scheme is added to a sample in an org-scope template job, then the sample scheme's QC Mask Code is inherited from the org-scope scheme version,

  • An enabled-scope scheme is added to a sample in a lab-scope job (template or non-template), then the sample scheme's QC Mask Code is inherited from the enabled-scope scheme version,

  • A lab-scope scheme is added to a sample in a lab-scope job (template or non-template), then the sample scheme's QC Mask Code is inherited from the lab-scope scheme version,

  and may be updated before the sample group is expanded upon submit.

• A sample scheme's QC Mask Code can be updated by Maintaining Sample Tests.

• When a duplicate, replicate or spike QC sample scheme is created, then the destination sample scheme's QC Mask Code defaults from the original sample scheme.

Assigning QC Masks to Laboratory Batch Sample Schemes

Once a collection of samples is selected for batching, the operator has three choices as to how the laboratory batch sample scheme's QC masks are defaulted:

• Scheme QC—For each scheme, and sample for that scheme, in the batch, a batch sample scheme's QC Mask Code defaults to the registered sample scheme's QC Mask Code.
• Template QC—For each scheme, and sample for that scheme, in the batch, a batch sample scheme's QC Mask Code defaults to the related template sample scheme's QC Mask Code, for the selected batch template job, and if no samples scheme with a matching Scheme Code and Scheme Version can be found in a template sample within the template job, then defaults to the registered sample scheme's QC Mask Code.
• No QC—No QC samples are added to the laboratory batch job during the batching process.

Then, when a job scheme is processed, each unique QC Mask Code on the associated sample schemes is used to generate QC samples for the related group of sample schemes. A job scheme can potentially contain sample schemes that link to a different QC Mask Code. This allows the sample schemes in one group to have a different QC regime from the sample schemes in another group.

Processing QC Masks on the Sample Schemes

1. Split the included sample schemes into sub-groups based on a common QC mask. Sample schemes are sub-divided by their QC Mask Code. A job scheme can contain more than one common QC mask.

2. Determine the size of the racks to be built for each sub-group. Where a QC mask links to a Container Type Code and the container type's Number of Containers is defined, then the size of the rack is this number of containers. Otherwise, the scheme version's Default Rack Size is used to set the size of the rack. Refer to Maintaining QC Masks and Configuring Versions of a Scheme.

3. Generate the required QC samples for each sub-group and assign them to racks. Each sub-group of sample schemes is input to the Add QC To Sample Group algorithm, in the following order:

   1. Firstly, all sample schemes that have no associated QC mask, ordered by ascending Profile Sequence (sequence of sample schemes within the job scheme).

   2. Secondly and subsequently, for each distinct QC Mask Code in ascending alphanumeric order, all sample schemes with that QC mask, ordered by ascending Profile Sequence.

   For example, given JOBSCH1 has the following registered samples:

   1. UNK1 QCMASK2

   2. UNK2 QCMASK1

   3. UNK3 QCMASK2

   4. UNK4 QCMASK1

   5. UNK5 (no QC mask)

   6. UNK6 QCMASK2

   Then, the following sub-groups are fed into the Generate QC Samples algorithm, with group 1 going first, based on the registration sequence of sample schemes:

   1. Group 1 > UNK5, to have no additional QC samples created for it given that there is no QC mask on it.

   2. Group 2 > UNK1, UNK3 and UNK6, to have QCMASK2 applied.

   3. Group 3 > UNK2 and UNK4, to have QCMASK1 applied.

   The Generate QC Samples algorithm determines the QC samples to be registered to the job scheme, and the out-going racks containing the placed samples and the added QC samples. Each separate sub-group starts on a new rack. The reason a new rack is used for each sub-group is based upon usual laboratory practices for rack-based QC placements.

   Consider the following scenario. A client submits samples. Some of those samples are of less importance so wants to only do 1 replicate and 1 standard in every rack of 30 samples. Other samples are of more importance, so they want to be really assured that the results are good, so they ask the lab to do 3 standards and 5 replicates in every rack of 30 samples. Therefore, the second group of samples cannot continue to be placed on the end of the last rack containing the first group of samples—the placement could not happen as rack-based QC samples, that is, any in-rack QC placements, would not have a whole rack upon which to base the placements. For this reason, the next rack is used. Also, it is good to have the two groups of samples in separate racks because more care may be taken when, e.g., weighing up the second group of samples, even with the same weight tolerances.

   A sample preparation QC mask typically adds duplicate QC samples to a sample preparation job scheme, but can add blank, standard or spike QC samples also, if required. The QC mask specifies whether a particular QC sample is added not only to the sample preparation job scheme, but whether it is propagated across all sequel job schemes. By default, any analytical preparation or analytical scheme is deemed a sequel scheme of a sample preparation scheme.

   An analytical preparation QC mask typically adds replicate, blank, standard and spike QC samples to an analytical preparation or analytical job scheme. The QC mask specifies whether a particular QC sample is added not only to the analytical preparation or analytical job scheme, but whether it is propagated across all sequel job schemes. Sequel scheme relationships are configured within the scheme.

Process of Applying a QC Mask to a Sample Group

Examples of applying a QC mask to a sample group with one common QC mask

Registering Propagated QC Samples to Linked and Sequel Job Schemes

After QC samples are registered to a job scheme, if the QC mask member which caused the QC sample to be created has Propagate selected, then the QC sample is registered in each linked or sequel job scheme as follows:

• QC samples are inserted into the sequel job scheme in the same relative position as they exist in the job scheme during the propagation.

• When a duplicate QC sample is created in a laboratory batch job, then the duplicate QC sample is propagated into linked and explicit and implicit sequel job schemes, but only where the target job scheme contains the duplicate QC sample's original sample. An explicit sequel scheme is one based upon master scheme precursor relationships, and an implicit sequel scheme for a sample preparation scheme is any analytical preparation or analytical scheme.

• When a replicate or spike QC sample is created in a registered or laboratory batch job, then the replicate or spike QC sample is propagated into linked and explicit sequel job schemes, but only where the target job scheme contains the replicate or spike QC sample's original sample.

• When a blank or standard QC sample is created in a registered or laboratory batch job, then the standard or blank QC sample is propagated into linked and explicit sequel job schemes.

Registering the same QC Samples and Applying the same Rack Structure to any Linked Job Schemes

After a job scheme is processed, all linked job schemes are processed to have the same QC samples and rack layout. If a job scheme is both a sequel job scheme and a 'to' linked job scheme, then the registering of the same QC samples and racks

Set the flags to exclude the processed sample schemes from being used in another Append QC process

Once a job scheme is processed for their QC masks, the sample schemes that were actioned upon have their Include In Job QC flag cleared so that they are not included in another append QC process if more samples are registered for the job scheme.