Other Materials Work Queues

Table of Contents

Purpose

The Sample Tracking Work Queues section of LIMS is used to process generic samples that have been checked into the lab and need to be tested. The following workflow functions are performed in this module:

Specimens are "received" into the lab (after field technicians check specimens into the lab)
Tests are assigned to specimens
Tests are performed and results recorded on configured forms
Test results are approved from a lab perspective and made available for reporting in the Quality Control module

Filter Pane

The filter pane can be used to filter the underlying queue data by a variety of variables. Filter controls that appear are configured in the Administration module by your MetaField administrator. Filter sets can be saved for future use in the Select A Filter pick list. To provide more screen space, the filter pane can be collapsed using the arrow on the right side of the header bar.

Left Navigation

The left navigation pane can be exposed / hidden by using the button with the three lines to the left of bread crumb links.

Common Grid Icons

Icon	Description
Pencil	Edits the test information
X	Deletes the record
	Displays sample / specimen (field) data Data is editable with the appropriate permission level
Folder	Opens lab (test) documents related to a test
	Displays a list of reports a test is reported on Only available in the Done queue
	Displays Lab instructions assigned to the sample Only available in the To Receive and Tests To Assign queues

Work Queues

To Receive

The To Receive queue shows all specimens that have been checked into the lab but have not been "received" into the lab workflow yet.

Button	Description
Receive Specimen	"Receives" the specimen into the lab workflow
Print Receiving List	Prints a paper receiving list that can be used to audit the receiving process in the lab
Change Lab	Specimen can be associated to another lab if checked into the incorrect lab by mistake
No Tests For Specimen	Marks a specimen as having no lab tests and will terminate its workflow in the lab
Add Specimen	Adds an additional specimen to the selected sample
Add Sample	Adds a brand new sample - user is ported to the Quality Control module to enter the sample Useful when samples are dropped off in the lab by contractors where field staff was not involved in gathering the sample / specimens

Tests To Assign

The Test To Assign queue shows all specimens that have been received into the lab workflow that need to have specific lab tests assigned to them.

Button	Description
Assign Test(s)	User is able to see the requested tests (Lab Instructions) and "assign" a test to a particular specimen Can optionally create new specimens during the assignment process - "splitting a specimen" (i.e. a large bag of soil arrives from the field and divided into smaller specimen sizes for testing) Multiple lab tests can be associated with one specimen (i.e. specimens that are tested multiple time and not destroyed during the previous test) See the Assigning Tests* sections below for detailed information on how tests are associated with specimens.*
Change Lab	See Change Lab Above
Add Specimen	See Add Specimen Above
Add Sample	See Add Sample Above

Assigning Tests

The general premise of the test assignment process is to indicate which specimen you want to execute the requested tests on. In addition, this process allows you to systematically split a specimen along with retaining a portion of a sample / specimen for future testing needs.

Click the Assign Tests(s) button to see a list of requested tests for the selected sample (sample number displayed above the grid). You should select at least one specimen to begin the test assignment process. If multiple specimens are selected (not necessary), they must be from the same sample. The following screen will appear and be pre-populated with the tests "requested" when the sample was logged. Additional tests can be added by clicking the Add Test button above the grid.

The following table outlines some of the fields / controls available on the Test Assignment screen.

Field / Control	Function
Add Test (Button)	Adds an additional test that needs to be performed
Apply Test Group (Button)	Adds a grouping of tests that can be assigned at once. Optional Test Groups can be maintained in Administration > LIMS/Samples > Test Groups. For more information, see the LIMS/Samples - Test Groups page.
Specimen Number (Field)	Allows you to assign a test to a particular specimen by selecting a stand alone number (existing specimen number) in the pick list Allows you to systematically create a new specimen / split a specimen by selecting a "New Split _" item in the pick list Multiple tests can be assigned to a given existing or new specimen Specimen numbers will default based on the selected specimens from the Tests To Assign work queue grid.
Test (Field)	Specific test that needs to be performed If project-specific tests are defined in Project Administration (Specifications), only those defined tests will be displayed to the user in this pick list.
Comments (Field)	Comments regarding the requested test from the Lab Instructions
Test Duration (Field)	How many days it takes to perform the test Optional - Will only display if it is defined on the Test form in Administration Helpful when determining the Test Age / Test Date to assign to the test
Specimen Size (Field)	Size of the specimen the test will be performed on Will default if the Default Test Specimen Size is defined on the Test Form properties in Administration
Test Age (Field)	Test Age (days from the Sample Date) the test should be performed (start) Interrelated with the Test Date - if the Test Date value changes, the Test Age will recalculate
Test Date (Field)	Date the test should be performed (start) Interrelated with the Test Age - if the Test Age value changes, the Test Date will change
Lab Technician (Field)	Lab Technician assigned to perform the test Optional
Test Notes (Field)	Specific notes / instructions for the lab technician Defaults from Specifications if defined
Test Cost (Field)	Customer cost to perform the test Defaults from Specifications or Administration if defined Optional
Billing Test Code (Field)	Accounting code associated with the test Defaults from Test Form properties if defined Can be variable based on test specific data using calculation rules defined on the form field
Billing Test Quantity (Field)	Quantity that is associated with the test for accounting purposes Defaults to 1 Can be variable based on test specific data using calculation rules defined on the form field
X (Button)	Deletes the test / Lab Instruction record
Specimen To Retain For Future Testing (Field)	Defines the specimen number that should be retained for potential future use / future tests requested on that sample You can't assign a specimen number to a test on this screen if it has been designated for future use
Save (Button)	Saves the Test Assignment screen and associates the defined tests with the appropriate specimens Systematically splits specimens and creates new specimen records as needed
Cancel (Button)	Cancels the Test Assignment process
Batch Fill Controls (Button)	Applies the same value to all tests in the grid Added to the majority of columns in the grid Optional

Testable

The Testable queue shows all tests that are waiting for the Test Date to arrive. This will include tests in progress with a Next Test Action Date and no Test Completed Date where the Next Test Action Date is in the future.

The Testable queue is now displaying tests instead of specimens.

Button	Description
Add Test	See Add Test Above
Modify Test Date	Test Date can be changed for a test
Print Early Test List	Prints a report of the tests schedule for a future test date
Add Specimen	See Add Specimen Above

To Test

The To Test queue shows all tests where the test date equals the system date or prior. Overdue tests are highlighted in a red shading. This will include test in progress with a Next Test Action Date and not Test Completed Date where the Next Test Action Date = system date (today).

Button	Description
Enter Test Results	Opens the configured test form to enter test data / results
Add Test	See Add Test Above
Print Test List	Prints a report of the tests schedule for today
Add Specimen	See Add Specimen Above

To view field (sample / specimen) data when entering test results, click the Sample / Specimen Data section control at the top of the Enter Test Results screen. This will unhide the section with the sample / specimen data data.

To Review

The To Review queue shows all completed test that are awaiting lab review and approval.

Button	Description
Approve	Marks the test as "Approved" (Approve By, Date Approved) Changes the status of the test (in QC) from Lab-Review to Analyzed Project manager is alerted in their Dashboard queue Only users with appropriate permissions can approve LIMS results User will be asked if they want to generate a batch report (can be generated across multiple projects)
Add Test	See Add Test Above
Open In QC	Opens the test in QC
Add Specimen	See Add Specimen Above

Done

The Done queue shows all tests that have been completed and approved in the lab. The queue will default to the most recent 30 days of tests, but can be broadened or narrowed if needed.

Button	Description
Open In QC	See Open In QC Above
Add Specimen	See Add Specimen Above
Create Batch Report	Allows for LIMS reports to be created in batch across multiple projects at one time

A Report Status filter exists to filter tests based on if they have been reported or not. A Reported On grid icon appears at the right side of the grid to see which reports a given test was included on.