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Lab View

Lab View is the main screen in Clarity LIMS.

Lab View shows the protocols and steps used in the lab, and the number of samples queued for each step. Use this screen to do the following:

See recent lab activities.
See in-progress steps and steps that are ready to be worked on.
Start or continue working on samples.
View and follow up on Alert Notifications.

Ice Bucket

When users run a step in the LIMS, they typically select a destination container type from a preconfigured list in the Ice Bucket screen, and then proceed to the Record Details screen - where they scan the barcode of a new container to add it to the LIMS.

However, users may sometimes want to place samples into an existing container - that is, a container whose barcode has already been entered into the LIMS. This is easily achieved in the Ice Bucket screen.

Add samples to an existing container

In Lab View, open the step containing the samples you want to place into an existing container.
Select the samples and add them to the Ice Bucket.
In the Ice Bucket screen, in the Container Options panel:
- In the Destination Container drop-down list, select the desired container type.
- In the Find Existing Container field, type the name or Clarity LIMS ID of the container in which to place the samples. While typing, Clarity LIMS presents a filtered list of containers with matching names or Clarity LIMS IDs. Select the appropriate container from the list.
Click Begin Work to proceed to the Record Details screen.

Remove samples from a queue

Occasionally, you must remove samples from a workflow queue in Clarity LIMS. Only administrator users can perform this operation.

In Clarity LIMS, open the step containing the samples to remove.
Select one or more samples, expand the Options drop-down list and select Remove.

The Options drop-down list is available to administrator users only.

If necessary, complete the following actions:

Search for the samples in Clarity LIMS.
Requeue them for a previous step.

Manually Moving Samples to the Next Step

Usually, samples move through the system according to the sequence of protocols and steps defined in a workflow.

However, sometimes samples are moved into the next step manually.

For example, suppose you must delete a step from a particular protocol. If there are samples queued for the step, they are not able to delete it. In this case, you can move the samples forward into the next step and proceed with the step deletion (see #configure-protocols).

Move samples to the next step

In Clarity LIMS, open the step containing the samples to move.
Select one or more samples, expand the Options drop-down list and select Move.
The samples move into the subsequent step in the protocol.

Next Step Selection and Sample Routing

In Clarity LIMS, the outcome of the next step selection for sample outputs depends on whether those outputs are #step-output-derived-sample, #h_05c23520-f09a-4a57-a339-ff0b791c79f0, or #h_b17f4801-e14a-40d3-8e45-ce941b06efbd.

The following tables summarize the expected results when choosing next steps for these three output types.

Step output: Derived sample

Step output: Pool

Step output: Derivative

Requeue and Rework Samples

To requeue and rework samples, specific role-based permissions are required. For details, see Configured Role-Based Permissions.

Requeueing samples for a Step

Occasionally, a sample must be rerun through a particular step. For example, there may have been a technical error in the lab. More sequencing may be needed at the end of a workflow if there are not enough samples.

To solve this problem, return samples to the queue and repeat the step.

There are several ways to requeue samples:

Search for the step with samples to requeue, view all samples that have completed this step, and choose the ones to requeue. See #requeue-samples-from-a-completed-protocol-step
Search for a specific sample to requeue. See #requeue-a-specific-sample

Requeue samples from a completed protocol step

In the header, select Search.
Select Protocol Step from the drop-down list of search categories, type the step to search for, and press the Enter key.
Type the complete step name or part of it followed by an asterisk.
In the search results list, select the arrow to the right of the step name to show details for all the samples that have been run through the step.
Select Requeue to requeue samples as required.

Requeue a specific sample

Select Sample from the drop-down list of search categories, type the sample name to search for, and press the Enter key.
Expand the search results details to view all the steps performed on the sample and select Requeue to return the sample to the queue for the required step.

Reworking samples from a previous step

In addition to requeueing samples for the same step, you can also rework samples from a previous step. For example, an action is needed if there is an insufficient quantity of a particular sample to meet the required target concentration level.

Rework a sample when assigning next steps

In the Assign Next Steps screen, select the next step drop-down list, select Rework from an earlier step.
All the steps performed on the sample are listed, up to and including the current step. Select the required step and select OK.
Clarity LIMS takes the upstream sample from the selected step and places it back in the queue for the selected step, so it can be reworked from that point in the workflow.
The Rework from <step name> option is reflected in the next steps field.
The sample no longer advances in the workflow, but the sample is now found in the queue for the selected rework step.

If a sample has been flagged for manager review, the manager can select Rework from an earlier step directly from the Review Samples screen.

Storing Sample Aliquots for Later Use

When working on a step, you can create multiple aliquots of each sample, move one aliquot to the next step in the workflow, and store the others for later use.

Create Store Aliquots for later use

Add samples to the Ice Bucket.
In the Ice Bucket, create the required number of sample aliquots.
- To create the same number of aliquots for all samples, select the number of derivatives to create and select Apply All. (The number adjacent to each sample updates automatically.)
- To create a different number of aliquots for each individual sample, adjust the number adjacent to each sample.
- In the Assign Next Steps screen, all the sample aliquots are listed.
To store an aliquot for later use, select Store for later from the next step drop-down list.

Resume workflow on stored aliquots

In the Search drop-down list, select Sample, type the sample name, and press the Enter key.
In the search results, all the sample aliquots are listed.
Select a sample aliquot to expand the details.
A prompt appears to confirm this step.
Select Confirm.
After it is confirmed, the search results update and the sample are shown as queued for the next step in the workflow.
In Lab View, the sample aliquot is now ready to be worked on.

Modifying Completed Step Details

To modify the information captured on the Record Details screen of a completed step, the CanEditCompletedSteps permission is required. This functionality allows for modifications to correct errors and/or bad data.

The CanEditCompletedSteps permission is not assigned to any user roles by default. A Clarity LIMS administrator must explicitly assign the permission to each user who requires it. See the and sections for details.

NOTE: Signature is not enforced again when editing completed steps. For recommended best practice, the role with CanEditCompletedSteps permission should be the same role that electronically signs off on steps. See for details.

Users who have been assigned the CanEditCompletedSteps permission see an Edit button on the Assign Next Steps screen of completed steps. Selecting this button takes them to the Record Details screen, where they may modify certain step details.

Editable details

The following table lists and describes the step details that can be modified:

Rules and Constraints

To ensure the integrity of data, the following rules and constraints are in place when editing a completed step:

Only steps that were completed in Clarity LIMS v5.1 and later are editable. If the system is upgraded to Clarity LIMS v5.1 or later, steps that were completed in a previous version cannot be edited.
Steps that were executed using the API cannot be edited.
If the configuration of a completed step changes after the step was run, it cannot be modified. This constraint includes any changes made to the protocol or workflow in which the step is included.
- The automations enabled on the step.
- The automation triggers configured on the step.
An automation cannot be rerun on a completed step. The details of the automation command line cannot be viewed.
Manager review/escalation comments on completed steps cannot be edited.
The eSignature is not enforced again when editing completed steps. The eSignature from the original step execution is retained. There is not a prompt for a new signature when editing the step.

Modify a Completed Step

On the Assign Next Steps screen of the completed step, select Edit (upper-right corner).
A prompt displays to confirm the desire to proceed and edit the step details.
Select Yes to confirm.
The Record Details screen displays.
Modify the step details as required.
Review your changes and select Save.

Alert Notifications

As lab scientists work with samples in the lab, they may request a manager to review a sample at a certain step in the workflow. When a request for review occurs, an alert notification displays in Lab View, in the Recent Activities area.

In Lab View, in the Recent Activities area, select an alert to go directly to the step containing the sample to be reviewed.
Review the sample, add a comment, and select Finish Review.
NOTE: You can also view and resolve alerts from .