2nd step: Create reagents and equipment

When starting LSM usage, it is essential to start with customization steps. You need to create your customers, results parameters, assays catalog and more. These items interact with each other in multiple ways, therefore the order of steps for the initial setup is important.
Some portions of the LSM cannot be customized without first setting up others.

 Completing this step requires admin or super-admin level permissions.

1. Add reagent and supplies

In the LSM you can add the reagents & suppliers that you use during your assays. Like this you can define the quantities of each reagent that is used in the tests configured in the LSM. When the tests are executed, automatically the setted up quantity of reagent/supplies will be reduced from the lots in order to have your stocks always updated.

The first step is to add the reagents & suppliers, and you have two ways: in the Reagents & Suppliers module or in the LSM add-on.

In LSM menu you navigate to Admin > Reagents. Select Add and fill the LabCollector general form. When completed you can Save.

Once the record is created you can search for it inside the LSM Reagents & Supplies List.

When you click in the record it will automatically open the record in the Reagent & Supplies module, like the image bellow. In this interface you can add lots, storage, alerts, derive, connect with ELN or workflow and much more. For more details please refer to our KB How to Start with Reagents & Supplies module?

Afterwards when the reagents & supplies records are defined you can associate them to the assays where you use these materials. For that, you go to ADMIN > Preferences > Tests. When you create a test, under the section Reagents & Supplies you can search for the material that you need by typing and associate the quantity that you need to use to perform that assay. To conclude you click in the plus button. See images bellow.

When you have a job in the LSM with a test that is expected to use a specific material, you will see the section of Reagents & Supplies in the Assigned phase, before you start the job (like the image bellow). At this step you need to select which lot of each material will be used and automatically it will be reduced the defined quantity once you save and start.

2. Add equipment

In the LSM you can add the equipment that you use during your assays. Like this you can create control charts to monitor the quality of your equipment overtime. The first step is to add the equipment, and you have two ways: in the Equipment module or in the LSM add-on.

In LSM menu, navigate to Admin > Equipment. Select Add and fill the LabCollector general form. When completed you can Save.

If you want, you can assign a category to organize your equipment list. Categories have to be previously defined clicking in the option Add Category or though Admin > Preferences > Equipment Categories. The same for seller, you can defined by clicking in the option Add Seller or thought Admin > Preferences > Sellers & Suppliers Management.

Once the record is created you can search for it inside the LSM Equipment List. When you click in the record it will automatically open the record in the Equipment module. In this interface you can add lots, storage, alerts, derive, connect with ELN or workflow and much more. For more details please refer to our KB How to start with Equipment module?

Afterwards when the equipment records are defined you can associate them to assays. For that, you go to ADMIN > Preferences > Tests. When you create a test, under the section Protocol & Equipment you can search for the equipment category that you need by typing. To conclude you click in the plus button. See images bellow.

When you have a job in the LSM with a test that is expected to use a specific equipment, you will see the section of Protocol & Equipment in the Assigned phase, before you start the job (like the image bellow). At this step you need to select which equipment of that category will be used and schedule in the calendar the period of use.

When equipment is associated to tests you can do control charts to monitor quality. It is one of the seven basic tools described for quality control. Such charts can be used to determine if the process/equipment is stable over time. Control charts help to keep a check on the performance of the instrument by using the samples assigned as QC/QA (Quality Control/ Quality Analysis). To have more details on this, please refer to our KB How to make Control Charts?

3rd step: Protocols and sample types