Running a complete and efficient lab is involving. Nobody prepares you enough for the work you have to put in, to arrange the samples and organize everything every other day.

A typical working day in the lab involves receiving samples and running tests on them. You will then need to manage the results and keep track of everything. You can easily get overwhelmed without a proper plan.

To help you, this article has general tips to help you track the samples. These include:

Create a straightforward naming technique

The easiest way to manage your samples is to name them. You don’t have the brain capacity to master all the colors, smells, and packaging to identify the samples. It even gets tricky as most of the samples are either odorless or colorless.

Come up with a unique and meaningful naming technique. Using the specific names helps save time when locating the samples for processes. It also helps avoid accidental mix up of samples or chemicals during testing.

Create a detailed registration procedure

When handling several samples in a day, it can feel easier to rush through the various processes. No matter how fast you want to become, pay attention to the registration processes. 

The registration should capture the sample metadata in line with your lab workflow. Ensure the whole team is aware and engaged in the process for easy coordination within the lab. With enough details, various teams can successfully work on the different phases of a project. 

Consider automation 

Automation is one of the ways to ensure efficiency in your lab for recurrent activities. After operating the lab for some time, you would understand the lab setting fully. With the information, you decide whether to use an excel spreadsheet to register the samples in bulk or individually key in data. 

You are better off working with an automated system for the samples you are anticipating. Automation ensures standardization for the basic procedures hence faster work processes. You might also end up reducing the workforce, thus saving some money.

Streamline Result Management

You have no business managing samples when you don’t have systems in place for result management. Proper result handling means you won’t have to keep samples longer than needed. The lesser the samples in your laboratory, the easier the management.

Provide multiple approval levels with comments for the various samples, tests, and results. The same should be in line with the specific control for limits. Also, give out feedback as fast as possible to avoid a backlog.

Integrate laboratory management software

Why spend all the time, energy, and extra money managing the laboratory samples when you can let the software do the work. Integrate a laboratory management system like lims software to handle your sample concerns.

The laboratory management software comes with highly configured sample identification fields for ease of use by the staff. They also provide in stand notification and barcode reading for results.

Bottom Line

A functional sample tracking plan is all you need for your laboratory. Have a naming technique in place and proper results management. Moreover, automate all the normal processes and use laboratory sample management software.