In many cases you may want to utilize MetaField Sample Tracking process without having a native form for the lab test built in the LIMS module. This is commonly done when you have an existing way of performing the test (often an Excel spreadsheet) but you would like to integrate the process into MetaField. Some benefits of this approach include:
- For Field staff, a consistent way to log all samples taken in the field regardless of how the lab test is performed.
- Being able to take advantage of the chain of custody for all samples and track where they are via the Dashboard
- A single repository for all lab reports, including distribution of these reports, regardless of where they are generated
- For Lab staff, having a single place to track all lab work
For this example, we are going to set up a form for a Concrete Core test (Compressive Strength of Concrete ASTM C42) but this could be used for any test.
Creating the Sample/Specimen Form
First, you need to create a Sample Tracking form for the sample and specimens, In Administration under LIMS / Samples → Sample Forms find or create a group for this sample to be in. Remember that these groups need to make sense to the Field staff when they are looking for the correct type of sample to log. For this example we will use the group "Concrete Samples".
Within your chosen group, create a form and give it a descriptive name, Our form is called Concrete Core. Notice that a specimen called Concrete Core Specimen is automatically created as well.
At this point you have to decide what information you would like to gather in the field about your sample and/or specimens. If you add fields to the sample form, the user will be prompted for information once, about the sample. If you add fields to the specimen form, the user will be prompted for the information once for each specimen within the sample. Some sample types will only have one specimen but some will have multiple, so you will want to think about how you want these forms structured.
For our example, we will gather the location and location details on the sample form.
Creating the Test Form
Using the Sample Tracking Process