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Manifests (PDF)
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Manifests (PDF)

Owned by Vivek Zagade (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Mar 27, 2025 by Saurav Singh
11 min read

Introduction

Manifests are PDF files that can be downloaded or printed after specimen collection, distribution, or shipment. It gives detailed information about the specimens and processing activities performed on them. The manifests can be configured based on protocol/distribution/project needs either at each individual level or system level.

Types of Manifest

The three types of manifest supported in OpenSpecimen are:

  1. Specimen Collection Manifest

  2. Order or Distribution Manifest

  3. Request Manifest

Specimen Collection Manifest

Since the processing techniques vary, generating protocol-specific manifests should be possible. It can contain any data related to specimen, visit, or participant - including custom fields.

A clinic coordinator who has reading access to the visit can download a “Specimen Collection Manifest” from the participant’s visit page.

Default Specimen Manifest PDF

Distribution or Order Manifest

It is possible to configure the distribution manifests either at the distribution or system level. The order manifest can be downloaded from the Order overview page.

Request Manifest

Similarly, it is possible to configure the request manifest either at the project or system level. The request manifest can be downloaded from the request overview page.

Prerequisites

Before you start working on the manifest, Please make sure that HTML file format is accepted by OpenSpecimen for import. If this is not true, you will receive an error while uploading the manifest template as shown below:

Steps to add the HTML file format

  1. Go to Homepage → Setting → Search '‘Allowed File Type.’

  2. Click on property ‘Allowed File Types' → Add 'html’ in the list separated by a comma → Update

Manifest HTML Templates

Manifest HTML Templates are customizable HTML files that are uploaded into the OpenSpecimen at the system or protocol/distribution/project level to generate a custom Manifest PDF. Based on your requirement you can add or remove fields, modify the specimen table, generate barcode/QR code, style and add texts, etc

Export Manifest Template

You can also export the manifest template from the system setting as well as individual protocol/distribution/project level.

Steps to export the default Manifest template

  • After OpenSpecimen v8.2, you can directly export the default template for each manifest type from the system's setting.

  1. Go to Homepage → Setting → Search 'Manifest.’

  2. Click on the link to download the manifest template of your choice.

  • Before v8.2, the default manifest templates were shipped with the application and were not available for export from the system’s setting. For such cases, you can download and use the below default templates as per your need.

Default Specimen Collection manifest

Distribution or Oder manifest

Request manifest

Steps to export protocol/distribution/project specific template

When no manifest is configured at any of the above levels you will get the following error message while downloading the template:

[{"code":"MANIFEST_NOT_FOUND","message":"Manifest template is not configured."}]

Export specimen manifest template at the protocol level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Collection Protocol → Choose the CP of your choice → View CP Details

  2. On the CP overview page, click on the “More” → Export Specimens Manifest.

CP Overview Page

 

Export order manifest template at the distribution level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Distribution→ Choose the DP of your choice

  2. On the DP overview page, click on the “Manifest” → Download Template.

DP Overview Page

 

Export request manifest template at the project level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Project → Choose the Project of your choice

  2. On the Project overview page, click on the “Manifest Template” → Export.

Project Overview Page

 

Import Manifest Template

You can also import the manifest template at the system setting as well as individual protocol/distribution/project level. At the system level, the template will be applicable across all the protocols/distributions/projects available in OpenSpecimen whereas at the protocol/distribution/project level it will be specific to them. The manifest template at the individual level overwrites the system level configuration.

Steps to import Manifest Template at system

  • Go to Homepage → Setting → Search 'Manifest.’

  • Click on the link to any property of your choice (for example Specimens Collection Manifest.) → Choose the file from your desktop → Update

Steps to import protocol/distribution/project specific template

Import Specimen Manifest Template at the protocol level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Collection Protocol → Choose the CP of your choice → View CP Details

  2. On the CP overview page, click on the “More” → Import Specimens Manifest → Choose the file from your desktop → Import

CP Overview Page

 

Import order manifest at the distribution level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Distribution→ Choose the DP of your choice

  2. On the DP overview page, click on the “Manifest” → Import Template → Choose the file from your desktop → Upload

DP Overview Page

 

Import request manifest at the project level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Project → Choose the Project of your choice

  2. On the Project overview page, click on the “Manifest Template” → Import → Choose the file from your desktop → Import

Project Overview Page

 

Downloading Manifest PDF

Steps to download manifest pdf for a visit/order/request

Download specimen collection Manifest PDF for a visit

  1. Go to the Homepage → Collection Protocol → Choose the Participant of your choice → Choose the visit (occured) of your choice.

  2. On the Visit overview page, click on 'Specimens Manifest'.

Visit Overview Page

Default specimen collection manifest PDF

Download order manifest PDF

  1. Go to the Homepage → Orders → Choose the order of your choice.

  2. On the Order overview page, click on 'Manifest'.

Order Overview Page

Default order manifest PDF

 

Download request manifest PDF

  1. Go to the Homepage → Project → View Requests → Choose the request of your choice

  2. On the Request overview page, click on 'Manifest'

Request Overview Page

Default request manifest PDF

 

Customizing Manifest Template

Based on your requirement you can add or remove fields, modify the specimen table, generate barcode/QR code, style and add texts, etc

  • Before configuring the manifest, it is good to have a backup file of the working manifest template.

  • The system-level template will be used when no template is configured at the CP level.

Add default fields on the specimen table

  1. Download the default manifest template file of your choice (for example visit.html) from the system setting as shown above.

  2. Open the template in the editor of choice.

  3. Go to the specimen table, add additional fields of your choice (for example “Lineage”) as shown below in the script, and save it.

  4. Follow the above steps to import the manifest template either at the system or individual level and download the manifest PDF for the same.

Script to add specimen lineage field on the specimen table

.... .... <h3> Specimens </h3> <table class="specimens"> <thead> <tr> <th>Label</th> <th>Parent</th> <th>Type</th> <th>Lineage</th> <th>Quantity</th> <th>Processing Date</th> <th>Location</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> #foreach ($spmn in $allSpecimens) <tr> <td> #if ($spmn.label) <span>$spmn.label</span> #end </td> <td> #if ($spmn.parentLabel) <span>$spmn.parentLabel</span> #end </td> <td>$spmn.type</td> <td> #if ($spmn.lineage) <span>$spmn.lineage</span> #end </td> <td> #if ($spmn.status == 'Collected') #if ($spmn.availableQty) <span>$spmn.availableQty</span> <span>$spmn.getQuantityUnit()</span> #end #elseif ($spmn.status == 'Pending' || !$spmn.status) #if ($spmn.initialQty) <span>$spmn.initialQty</span> <span>$spmn.getQuantityUnit()</span> #end #end </td> <td> #if ($spmn.lineage == 'New' and $spmn.collectionEvent.time) <span>$dateFmt.format($spmn.collectionEvent.time)</span> #elseif ($spmn.createdOn) <span>$dateFmt.format($spmn.createdOn)</span> #end </td> <td> #if ($spmn.storageLocation.name) <span>$spmn.storageLocation.name</span> #if ($spmn.storageLocation.mode == 'TWO_D') <span>($spmn.storageLocation.positionY, $spmn.storageLocation.positionX)</span> #elseif ($spmn.storageLocation.mode == 'LINEAR') <span>($spmn.storageLocation.position)</span> #end #end </td> </tr> #end </tbody> </table> .... ....

 

Manifest PDF View

 

Add custom fields on the specimen table

The specimen custom field is only supported on specimen manifest. The order and request manifest doesn't support it

  1. Download the default manifest template file of your choice (for example visit.html) from the system setting as shown above.

  2. Open the template in the editor of choice.

  3. Go to the specimen table, add additional custom fields of your choice (for example “Use Specimen for Research”) as shown below in the script, and save it.

  4. Follow the above steps to import the manifest template either at the system or individual level and download the manifest PDF for the same.

Script to add custom field on the specimen table

.... .... <h3> Specimens </h3> <table class="specimens"> <thead> <tr> <th>Label</th> <th>Parent</th> <th>Type</th> <th>Use Spcimen for Research</th> <th>Quantity</th> <th>Processing Date</th> <th>Location</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> #foreach ($spmn in $allSpecimens) <tr> <td> #if ($spmn.label) <span>$spmn.label</span> #end </td> <td> #if ($spmn.parentLabel) <span>$spmn.parentLabel</span> #end </td> <td>$spmn.type</td> <td> #if ($spmn.extensionDetail.attrsMap.use_specimen_for_research) <span>$spmn.extensionDetail.attrsMap.use_specimen_for_research</span> #end </td> <td> #if ($spmn.status == 'Collected') #if ($spmn.availableQty) <span>$spmn.availableQty</span> <span>$spmn.getQuantityUnit()</span> #end #elseif ($spmn.status == 'Pending' || !$spmn.status) #if ($spmn.initialQty) <span>$spmn.initialQty</span> <span>$spmn.getQuantityUnit()</span> #end #end </td> <td> #if ($spmn.lineage == 'New' and $spmn.collectionEvent.time) <span>$dateFmt.format($spmn.collectionEvent.time)</span> #elseif ($spmn.createdOn) <span>$dateFmt.format($spmn.createdOn)</span> #end </td> <td> #if ($spmn.storageLocation.name) <span>$spmn.storageLocation.name</span> #if ($spmn.storageLocation.mode == 'TWO_D') <span>($spmn.storageLocation.positionY, $spmn.storageLocation.positionX)</span> #elseif ($spmn.storageLocation.mode == 'LINEAR') <span>($spmn.storageLocation.position)</span> #end #end </td> </tr> #end </tbody> </table> .... ....

 

Manifest PDF View

 

Delete Manifest Template

You can only delete the protocol/distribution/project specific template from their respective level. You cannot delete the default manifest template attached to the system’s setting.

Steps to delete protocol/distribution/project specific template

Delete Specimen Manifest Template at the protocol level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Collection Protocol → Choose the CP of your choice → View CP Details

  2. On the CP overview page, click on the “More” → Delete Specimens Manifest

CP Overview Page

 

Delete order manifest at the distribution level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Distribution→ Choose the DP of your choice

  2. On the DP overview page, click on the “Manifest” → Delete Template

DP Overview Page

 

Delete request manifest at the project level

  1. Go to the Homepage → Project → Choose the Project of your choice

  2. On the Project overview page, click on the “Manifest Template” → Delete

Project Overview Page

 

Supported Fields

Specimen manifest

Specimen Manifest Supported Fields

Order manifest

Order Manifest Supported Fields

FAQ

1. Would it be possible to escape all special characters within a text at once? 

Ans: From OpenSpecimen v10.x, special characters are skilled automatically in default manifest templates. However, for earlier versions, you can use CDATA.to avoid the overhead of escaping each special character

Syntax

<![CDATA[Statement]]>

Example:

<div> <ol style="font-size: 13px; padding-left: 13px;"> <caption style="text-align: left; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 0px;"><u><b>Processing Notes:</b></u></caption> <li><![CDATA[Inequality Synmbols: >,<,>=,<=]]></li> </ol> </div>

2. Does the Order manifest support specimen custom or participant registration fields?

No. Order manifest doesn’t support specimen custom or participant registration fields such as (External Suj ID).

We suggest using the order report option where the user attaches a custom query with required fields to your Distribution protocol and generates a report for orders under it. Additional Distribution Features | Report

3. Would it be possible to page break or start a new page? 

Ans: Yes. Please add the following HTML wherever you want a page break or a new page should be started.

Syntax

<div style="page-break-after:always"></div>

Example:

#foreach ($spmn in $allSpecimens) <div style="page-break-after: always;"></div> #if ($visit.extensionDetail.attrsMap.service_request && $spmn.lineage == 'New' && $spmn.collectionEvent.time && ($spmn.label.startsWith("P1") || $spmn.label.startsWith("P6"))) <tr> <td class="label">First Name</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$cpr.participant.firstName]]></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">Last Name</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$cpr.participant.lastName]]></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">MRN</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$cpr.participant.empi]]></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">Date of Birth</td> <td>: $dateOnlyFmt.format($cpr.participant.birthDate)</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">Participant ID</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$cpr.ppid]]></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">PI Name</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$cp.principalInvestigator.firstName $cp.principalInvestigator.lastName]]></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">PI Email</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$cp.principalInvestigator.emailAddress]]></td> </tr> #foreach ($request in $visit.extensionDetail.attrsMap.service_request) #if (($spmn.label.startsWith("P1") && $request.service_requested == 'DNA Extraction') || ($spmn.label.startsWith("P6") && $request.service_requested == 'PBMC Processing')) <tr> <td class="label">Service Requested</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$request.service_requested]]></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">Number of tubes</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$request.number_of_tubes]]></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">Volume in each tube</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$request.volume_in_each_tube2]]></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="label">Collection Date</td> <tr>: <![CDATA[$dateFmt.format($spmn.collectionEvent.time)]]></tr> </tr> #if ($request.comments) <tr> <td class="label">Comments</td> <td>: <![CDATA[$request.comments]]></td> </tr> #end #end #end <tr> <td>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------</td> <td>-----------------------------------------</td> </tr> #end #end

 

4. Is it possible to sort the specimen table in order manifest based on the ascending order of PPID? 

Ans: Yes. You need to implement the sorting function directly within the HTML template as shown below (before the start of <html> tag).

Syntax

#set($numItems = $items.size()) #set($range = $numItems - 1) #foreach ($i in [0..$range]) #set($subRange = $range - $i - 1) #if ($subRange >= 0) #foreach ($j in [0..$subRange]) #if ($items.get($j).specimen.ppid.compareTo($items.get($j + 1).specimen.ppid) > 0) #set ($temp = $items[$j]) #set ($items[$j] = $items[$j + 1]) #set ($items[$j + 1] = $temp) #end #end #end #end

Example:

5. Is it possible to sort the specimen table in order manifest based on the descending order of PPID? 

Ans: Yes. You need to implement the sorting function directly within the HTML template as shown below (before the start of <html> tag).

Syntax

#set($numItems = $items.size()) #set($range = $numItems - 1) #foreach ($i in [0..$range]) #set($subRange = $range - $i - 1) #if ($subRange >= 0) #foreach ($j in [0..$subRange]) #if ($items.get($j).specimen.ppid.compareTo($items.get($j + 1).specimen.ppid) < 0) #set ($temp = $items[$j]) #set ($items[$j] = $items[$j + 1]) #set ($items[$j + 1] = $temp) #end #end #end #end

6. Is it possible to add a calculated date field in a manifest? 

Ans: Yes, you can add a calculated date field based on other date fields. For example, adding a 'Process By' field as Collection Date + 5 Days (432000000 miliseconds).

There are three methods to achieve this. Expand for syntax.

Syntax 1:

<td> #if ($item.specimen.collectionDate) #set ($collDate = $item.specimen.collectionDate) #set ($processBy = $collDate.getTime() + 432000000) #set ($calendar = $dateFmt.getCalendar().class.getInstance()) #set ($ignore = $calendar.setTimeInMillis($processBy)) <span>$dateFmt.format($calendar.getTime())</span> #end </td>

Syntax 2:

<td> #if ($item.specimen.collectionDate) #set ($collDate = $item.specimen.collectionDate) #set ($processBy = $collDate.getTime() + 432000000) <span>$dateFmt.format($collDate.class.from($collDate.toInstant().class.ofEpochMilli($processBy))) </span> #end </td>

Syntax 3:

<td> #if ($item.specimen.collectionDate) #set ($collDate = $item.specimen.collectionDate) <span>$dateFmt.format($collDate.class.from($collDate.toInstant().plusMillis(432000000))) </span> #end </td>

 

Example PDF

Example Template

 

 

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