1.2.5 Bika Barcode use

A requirements Overview. February 2014. After feedback from on-line discussion triggered by expanding Bika's Android functionality to use tablet cameras as barcode scanners and the portability opening up more possibilities, the functions below were mooted as requirements. One respondent wisely wrote about the latter, 'focus on actions that are particularly suited for a portable device, and those items that are difficult to do with a portable device but there is a reason to do so'.

Disclaimer

Table of Contents...

Bika Sample stickers

Sample labelling is discussed at in the workflow section of the label, Receiving Samples.

Bika / Senaite can be configured to automatically print container stickers at

Sample Registration, before sampling, this assists Samplers to be more accurate, and will still do for over-the-counter samples
Sample reception
or Not at all, by disabling the feature

Stickers can still be printed later from lists and individual Samples

Barcoded sticker templates

Customise your own!

Linear standard

Sample ID barcode; text Sample ID, Sample Type, Date Sampled

Big Sample sticker. Bika | Senaite

Large

More information now, say for plastic ziplock bags

QR codes

This one small for Eppendorf tube

Barcode scanning in Bika LIMS

The barcode functions can be divided into 3 groups, Navigating by barcode, Data entry by barcode and Barcode actions. Note that only a limited part of these are currently implemented while we await sponsorship

Data entry by barcode

Scanning a barcode with the cursor focused on an editable field, the scanned codes are read into the field, e.g. for report and query parameters, selecting samples for worksheets, etc.

This will often be used for scanning in barcodes generated ex-LIMS, e.g. Client Sample IDs, Instruments, Inventory items, PT Samples, Reference Standards

Workflow Actions

It should also be simple to set up the LIMS in any of several workflow action 'modes' where the same action will be carried out on the scanned items thereafter until the user exits the mode, e.g. to receive the samples being scanned, disposing of them etc.

Where Bika is configured to include sampling, a sampling mode can also be used in the field when scanning pre-labelled containers

This also comes into play during sample storage, and inventory management and more so for sample tracking and chain of custody in forensic labs, e.g. scan samples from storage to cart, from cart to bench, back to storage, to disposal etc.

If these procedures are too cumbersome, users will simply ignore them. Some control can be exerted by e.g. not allowing results to be captured for a sample the LIMS indicates to still be in storage

Navigating by barcode

Where none of the above was picked, the LIMS will try to navigate to the object scanned, e.g. opening Samples, QC Reference Samples, Worksheets, Storage positions, Batches, Inventory items (eventually), Instruments and in In Bika Health: Patients and Clinical Cases

copyleft 200 x 33