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:

1. Scan new specimens
2. Move specimens from one box to another
3. 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. 

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.