ChemSW has released unique new functionality that enables users of CISPro Global and CISPro Live to further refine their ability to track biological and radiological materials in inventory
Because biological materials in particular can vary tremendously, the ability to track different biological criteria in inventory by user-defined properties provides researchers with an even greater depth of information about materials in inventory.
With both types of material, it is now possible to dispense the material by weight or volume while tracking it by AU (activity unit).
No other commercially available inventory software offers this capability.
"In our discussions with customers, we found that laboratories which use biological materials need to track attributes that are not only chemically-oriented but also biologically- and radiologically-oriented," explains David Hessler, vice president of software research and development at ChemSW.
"For example, in addition to standard criteria such as location or CAS number, the ability to track containers of reagents, bacteria or purified plasma can enable labs to track biologicals in even greater detail through user-defined fields that suit their particular work processes.
"It really helps streamline not just inventory tracking but also lab operations".
The new function appears simple - it's the addition of a new type of material to the inventory properties list - but it enables unparalleled detail for tracking biological and radiological attributes very specific to those types of materials.
There's virtually no learning curve.
Any part of the function can be turned on or off.
Now, researchers can define any type of property necessary to enhance their inventory processes.
For instance, a new property for cell type can be specified, then further categorized by red cells, white cells, etc., and then further segmented by specific identification tags.
There are six attributes built in to the new tracking function for biological materials, including reference number, user-defined type, species variety, genes of interest, transgenic filing, and research notes.
In addition, the biological can be flagged with hazards information and handling requirements, such as biosafety level, vector and PPE (personal protected equipment).
Finally, the new functionality even enables users to store a picture of the item.
"The ability to store definitional information about a biological material in an easily searched web-based database that can handle million of containers can significantly enhance laboratory operations," Hessler states.
"It is now quite practical to track different biologicals stored in various places and owned by different people.
"Previously there has not been much capability in industry to determine with any detail exactly what was stored and where; it has been mostly anecdotal or just plain nonexistent.
"This new capability makes it easy to find any biological material in inventory using very specific criteria.
"In addition, biological AUs can be conveniently linked to other criteria, enabling researchers to more quickly and easily define components of their experiment activities".
With regard to radiological materials, the new functionality now enables researchers to track these materials as they would any other material in inventory.
Because radioactivity of radiological materials is measured in millicurries, that is how it is typically dispensed.
Now, this new function provides the ability to dispense a radiological material by weight or volume even though it is tracked by AU.
In addition, with this new capability, it is now possible to identify if a specific isotope is in a particular container.
Molecular biologists involved in high throughput screening will find this capability particularly helpful for tracking information about numerous cell lines stored in many different places because now they can tell precisely how much material they have and where it is.
Universities will also find it particularly beneficial because they will not lose track of material despite the high turnover of students.
Government agencies that manage large quantities of materials received from multiple entities and stored at a variety of sites will also find the solution helpful.
Available now, the new function is resident in ChemSW's CISPro Global and CISPro Live chemical inventory systems.
There is no cost for the capability beyond the cost to upgrade to those solutions.
