Introduction

In many sites, users want to track specimens based on pre-printed barcoded apart from human-readable labels. During the collection of specimens, you should be able to scan barcodes also and use this as a way to quickly search the specimens. 

To display the 'Barcode' field, you have to first enable the barcoding settings. 

Enable Barcoding

Barcoding can be enabled at the system level or for individual collection protocols. Below is the barcoding preference for system-level vs CP level.

Enable barcoding at the system level

  1. Log in as Super Administrator.
  2. Go to the home page and click on the 'Settings' card.
  3. Search for the property 'Specimen Barcoding' OR click on 'Biospecimen → Specimen Barcoding.'
  4. Click on the property, select 'Enabled' of the 'New Value' field, and click on 'Update.'


Enable barcoding at the individual collection protocol level

  1. Go to 'Collection Protocols' from the menu or home page. 
  2. Click on 'View Details' under the specific protocol where barcoding needs to be enabled. 
  3. Click on the 'Settings' tab on the left and select 'Label Format and Print.' 
  4. Click on 'Edit' and then on 'Show advanced settings.'
  5. Under 'Miscellaneous settings', select 'Enabled' for 'Specimen Barcoding.'

  6. Barcodes can be enabled only in protocols where specimens labels are auto-generated.

If barcoding is enabled, the label fields are hidden during data entry since they are auto-generated.


Barcode Scanning

The barcodes can be used during collection, distribution, or searching for specimens.

Collecting planned specimens

The label column is replaced by the 'Barcode' in the specimen table where users can scan the barcode. For aliquots, it shows a single text field where users can scan the comma/newline/tab-delimited barcodes. 



When the specimen barcoding is enabled at the system level or CP level, you will need to enter the barcodes while collecting the aliquots, or else, the aliquots will not get collected and continue to remain in the pending state.

This behavior is only for aliquots and not for derivatives or primary specimens.



Other specimen pages: All other pages which accept specimen labels will accept barcode. E.g., collect unplanned specimens, aliquots, derivatives, etc.

Distribution and shipment

You can choose whether you are scanning a barcode or label using a check-box.

Container map

You can configure the freezer to display the barcode within the container map. 

Bulk Import templates

The barcode field is available in the below bulk import templates:

Query by barcode

You can search specimens by barcode using the below approaches: