How to replicate and duplicate boxes in storage?

LabCollector allows you to replicate boxes in storage.
This can be very useful when you have boxes whose contents are going to be used for different purposes.
For example, you have prepared duplicates for a particular cell line, plasmids or bacterial culture and you want to store them. LabCollector allows you to replicate the box along with its contents for storing the vials of cell lines or plasmids or any required reagent. You can use these replicated boxes for different tests or experiments.
This saves time and hassle to create boxes from scratch and label them every time.
The new version of LabCollector allows you to replicate or to derive the boxes as well. (Explained Below).

In another option, you can also duplicate the structure of the storage box, container, racks, or any particular structure that you have created for storing reagents or samples, etc. This will save you the time to create the structure again and again for various purposes.
Both options are explained in detail below.

To replicate the boxes go to Tools–>Storage Browser

In the storage browser go to Lab storage tree.
Select the storage location where you want to replicate the boxes.
For example, below the main location is Autofreezer containing floating lab contents where the boxes are there to be replicated.
You will have two options:-

A: Replicate the whole box as secondary storage

B: Duplicate the box structure

A: Replicate whole box as secondary storage

This option allows you to replicate the box along with all its contents.

NOTE: The replication can only be done for boxes with grids, Microplates or tubes tray.

Image sources:
https://www.monotaro.sg/g/00249855/
https://profilab24.com/en/laboratory/consumables/brand-96-well-microtiter-plate
https://www.plastictesttubes.co.uk/10-ml-ps-test-tubes–with-tops-and-tray-set-of-50-20370-p.asp

When you click on the icon the below page will appear.

Information about the new box/plate to be created

1. You can put the name of the box or plate. For example, if you want to replicate the box Microplate NGS LC. You rename it if you want.
2. You can select the storage location if it’s the same as the parent box or a new location. (location meaning the same room and/or the same storage equipment, for example, a fridge).
3. You can select the fridge drawer, shelf, rack where you want to store the replicate box. You can also define the position in the drawer or if you want to declare the containers that are already present in the rack.
4. You can write a description of the box that you are replicating. For example, if you doing multiple passages of a particular cell line.
5. You can define the owner of the box.

Storage Options

6. Target type meaning if it’s a microplate, a tube tray or a box with the grids.
7. You can define the volume or the quantity of the contents. For example, each vial that you are creating is 1 ml.
8. Here you can write comments regarding the vials, for example, if the vials can be used for further dilution or not.
9. You can also choose if you are using specific color caps for the vials or tubes. 

Current box map to be replicated

10. The box map to be replicated will be shown here. 

Replicate or Derive option

11. You can replicate this box in the secondary storage. 
12.NEW in v6.0 This option is new which allows you to derive samples from the parent box. 
For example, you are a test lab and you have blood samples from various patients that are to be used to perform various tests.
In this case, if you have received 10ml of blood from each patient and you have saved it in a fridge in a tube tray.
To perform tests lets say you divide and make aliquots of 2 ml each to be used for different tests.
Then you can just select this (Derive) option, select the module you want to store the sample data in and click on derive records. This will automatically create records derived from the parent box that will be seen in the module you select to derive the records.
In the same way, you can use derive option to passage the cell lines or create aliquots of any samples that could be used for different tests.
You can even allow the user or technician going to work on the sample to allow him/her to remove a particular volume for a test while performing the procedure in case you don’t want to make aliquots.

The replicated box will appear in the position you created it and if you select the derive option then the contents will be seen in the records of the module you selected.

B: Duplicate the box structure

This option allows you to replicate the box structure ONLY & not the contents inside it.

NOTE: The duplication can be performed from any storage structure that you have created. If its a box with grids, tube tray, straws from liquid nitrogen, any storage structure that you have created and/or stored as model box can be duplicated using this icon.

When you click on the option the below page will appear.

The template that you have chosen to replicate will be displayed next to the ‘From template’.

1. You can choose the model of the box structure you want to apply. (While creating boxes you will get an option to save the box as a model. If you select this option then the box name will appear in this section)
2. You can name the box that you are creating. For example, if you are creating cell line vials for freezing, you can put the cell line name such as C3H12.
3. You can describe the content of the box here. For example, if its a cell line box then you can write the description of the cell line. eg. C3H12 is a mouse fibroblast cell line.
4. You can define the type of box or the container that you are duplicating. For example, it can be a box with/without a grid, tube tray,  microplate, visoplate for straws in liquid nitrogen, bad, container or even a part of a shelf.
5. The structure of the box will be automatically present here. For example, if you have designed your template with an 81 well box with a grid of 9 rows and 9 columns then this will be automatically present here. However, you can still edit this option and select how many grids you want to create as per your requirement. By clicking on ‘Editor for special format’ you can see the format of the box you created or the template that you are using. After editing and saving, when you create the box you can go to edit option and link the samples from the module you require.
6. You can select the storage place of the box. Equipment means in a fridge or a rack/shelf in a room or liquid nitrogen, etc. The equipment used to store the box.
7. You can define the location of the box with terms of position in the fridge or room rack/tower/canister number/reference, etc.

Image sources:
https://www.sturgeon
ab.com/publications
http://thalheimer-kuhlung.com/en/products/medical/laboratory-refrigeration/https://shop.demas.it/kruuse/contenitore-per-trasporto-seme-21-5-l-kr
https://www.belart.com/cryo-tower-storage-systems-20624.html

8. You can put the position for example if the box is in the fridge in a rack at position 1 (Starting from left) or in the tower in position 2.  
9. You can put the owner of the box to who the sample belongs or share the box and its contents with everyone or a particular group.
10. Here you can select the box structure to be used as a model template in order to be duplicated for future use.

The duplicate box will appear in the position you created it.

• See our KB on how to manage storage for the reagents & Supplies module.