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Purpose
Firms that are using the MetaField DIY Form & Report Engine to design their own LIMS Test Forms or are using our template test forms can add equipment tracking to the form design. Doing this allows Lab Techs to associate what equipment is used on a particular test record from a pre-defined equipment inventory that was added in the LIMS - Equipment area of Administration vs. simply typing in an equipment code/id. Follow the Steps below to configure your test forms.
Adding Equipment Inventory
The first think that needs to be done is to build out an equipment inventory in the LIMS - Equipment area of Administration. Add Equipment Types by selecting Add Equipment Type and provide a name. Equipment Types will be what is used on the test form to narrow down the list of equipment options to just those that need to be identified for that particular test. Within each Equipment type you will add the individual pieces of equipment by selecting Add Equipment, giving the equipment a name and associating it with a Lab. The Name needs to be unique by Equipment Type. Defining the lab at the equipment level allows the system to pair down the equipment list within the test form based on the lab that the specimen associated with the test was checked in to.
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Update Test Forms to Source from Equipment Inventory
Two Fields will need to be added to the form for each piece of equipment that needs to be identified. The first field defaults in the Equipment Type, and another that sources the equipment list based on that Equipment type. On forms where more than one piece of equipment per equipment type is being used, a data grid could be used to identify more than one piece of equipment per Equipment Type. In the example below, the oven and scale used on the test needs to be identified on the test form. Add the field that defaults the Equipment Type by selecting Add Field. Add an appropriate label (this field is going to be hidden from the Lab Tech so it doesn’t have to be end user facing. Select “Picklist” as the Type.
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In Settings, add the “Lab Equipment Type” data source. Next add the Default Value setting and select the appropriate Equipment Type option (in this case we are defaulting in “Drying Ovens”). Finally, add the Hidden setting and mark the check box for “Quality Control” and “Lab” true.
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Add the field that sources the equipment list based on that Equipment type by selecting Add Field. Select “Picklist” as the Type. In Settings, add the “Lab Equipment” data source. Next Add the “Parent System Name” setting and in the “Value” field, enter in the system name used for the field that is defaulting the appropriate Equipment Type.
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Equipment Tracking in Use
After all test forms are updated to source equipment from the Equipment Inventory defined in the LIMS - Equipment area of Administration, lab techs will be able to select the equipment from a picklist. The list of values will be prepopulated with the appropriate equipment list for their laboratory.
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