Introduction

In high-throughput labs, the use of scanners is quite common. OpenSpecimen provides an option to scan specimens from a box scanner to store them into a box in the user interface.

Below are some use cases where this feature can be used:

Scan new specimens
Move specimens from one box to another
Rearrange positions of the specimens within a box

Integrating with box scanners

OpenSpecimen is not integrated to a box scanner at a UI or API level. All box scanners with a client software from which CSV of barcodes can be copied (or exported). OpenSpecimen provides a text area to paste the barcodes.

Scan new specimens from scanner

The specimens must be already registered in OpenSpecimen with these barcodes and must be in a pending state. This will work if the barcodes are printed using a pre-defined format that can be replicated using the OpenSpecimen label configuration.

If a particular box in the freezer is filled up with new specimens and is being stored, this feature is useful. You can use the box scanner to scan the barcodes of the new specimens into the specific box within a freezer.

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Go to a specific box of the freezer from the 'Containers' page or using a quick search and scanning the box barcode or name.

In the text area, copy and paste the barcodes from the box scanner within the box view. This accepts barcodes delimited by comma, new line, or tab.

To start storing specimens from a specific position, you can add "Position"specimen label as shown:

Once the barcodes are scanned, select the 'Use Barcode' checkbox and click on 'Assign Positions'. The specimens will be stored in corresponding locations.

If the 'Use Barcode' checkbox is not visible, 'Enable' the below in system 'Settings'.

The below matrix explains how barcoding works.

System	CP	Checkbox
Enabled	At least one CP with barcoding enabled	Displayed
Enabled	At least one CP with barcoding enabled	Displayed
Disabled	At least one CP with barcoding enabled	Displayed
Disabled	None of the CPs have barcoding enabled	Not Displayed

Move specimens from one location to another

If the box is removed from the freezer and placed back after working on the specimens, often the positions are rearranged. In this case, the specimens can be rescanned.

Go to the box view, scan the barcodes and choose the 'Vacant existing specimens' option. This will move the specimens to appropriate locations as scanned. For the specimens moved, the transfer event is also logged.

Positions that are being changed are indicated in red. Click on 'Assign Positions' to confirm the changes.