Note: Compatible with SLIMS-6.6.2 and above. Before import, read the Important Notice at the bottom of this package description.

The Biobank package supports a fast and efficient configuration of SLIMS to facilitate sample tracking in biobanks from Subject registration to Long-term storage.

Subject registration

The first step in sample tracking includes subject registration. Register your subjects with a Subject ID specific to your lab in SLIMS and enroll them in the Study they take part in. Keep track of any other meta data you need on the subject (such as birthdate, gender, etc.) as well as the Consent Status for each Study they are enrolled in. Once your subject is registered, keep track of the visits during which samples will be collected with the date of the visit and the timepoint when the visit occurs.

This package offers you all the configuration required for a quick startup out of the box, and automation for an easy subject registration process. However, some customization is required to match your current design which requires configuration of your own studies and visits. Some example studies and visits are included in the package to refer to as you build your own Study designs as well as some custom statuses that match standard biobank sample tracking needs.

Kit Collection

Once your subject is enrolled in the custom study, this setup allows you to automate the sample collections for each visit in each study. Further customization is required to setup the Study design in SLIMS, configuring the list of tubes that will be collected for each visit, how many tubes will be collected of each type, which container they are collected in, whether they are in pre-barcoded tubes or not, as well as some meta data on collection, reception, fixation/stabilization (for solid samples), and the events the sample will undergo after collection (centrifugation, aliquoting, added additives, storage, and shipment).

With your lab’s study design set up, start the automated kit collection by selecting the subject and the visit you want to collect the sample for. All the samples will be displayed for collection to make data easier to record with the ability to enter the barcode of pre-barcoded tubes, volume of the samples, fixation dates when relevant, as well as the collection and reception dates. You can set up your label templates and printers in SLIMS to also automate the label printing of samples that are not pre-barcoded.

The package also provides some location types to facilitate the creation of all the rooms, freezers, boxes, etc. which can be activated or deactivated and placed to match your lab environment.

Common actions

Automations are provided to facilitate the various events that samples can undergo after kit collection so they can be easily tracked. Track the centrifugation events performed on the samples with all the relevant meta data (temperature, time, acceleration, braking, which centrifuge is used, and the date and time of the centrifugation). Track the storages (temporary and long-term) and the freeze/thaw cycles whenever you take a sample out of the freezer. Automate your aliquoting by predefining what process the sample will undergo in the study design. Predefine and track any additives added to your samples. Predefine and track shipments to external customers or other labs.

Additional packages to combine with

  • The SPREC (Standard pre-analytical code) is commonly used in biobanking, and while SPREC support is not included in this package, it can be added by downloading the “SPREC3.0” package. The SPREC package is engineered to work seamlessly with this package.
  • Additional units can be added by downloading the “SI units” package.
  • A default Layout configuration can be added by downloading the “Biobank layout” package.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The following functionalities should be enabled in the Roles module to be able to install this package:

  • Plugins
  • Can edit configurations of plugins

It is advised to install the SPREC package before the Biobank package if the SPREC package is needed.

Version 1.0.2