Artel has launched version 3.3 of its Pipette Tracker software, which is claimed to provide a total management system for the quality control of any pipette population.
Tightly integrated with the Artel Pipette Calibration System (PCS), the updated software is designed to bring even more convenience to laboratories by proactively notifying quality-control managers and laboratory technicians via email when pipettes are due for calibration and/or preventive maintenance.
The updated Artel Pipette Tracker software provides more tools to analyse pipette calibration and maintenance records, making it straightforward to identify poor performance trends early on.
The software allows laboratories to set action limits, which will alert users when a pipette is nearing its individual performance specifications, allowing preventive maintenance to be performed before pipette failure occurs.
All calibration data is collected directly from the Artel PCS and is stored in secure databases, facilitating report generation and compliance with Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 11, which defines the criteria under which electronic records and electronic signatures are considered to be trustworthy, reliable and equivalent to paper records.
Aside from the usability updates, Pipette Tracker v3.3 is also faster and able to manage larger pipette inventories than earlier versions.
Dr Bjoern Carle, product manager at Artel, said: 'Regardless of research focus, pipette performance is crucial to data integrity.
'With the ability to analyse the trending of pipette performance, and the possibility to alert users once the performance approaches specified tolerance limits, Artel Pipette Tracker enables laboratory personnel to take action before a pipette fails,' added Carle.
In addition to recording each pipette's calibration data from the PCS, Pipette Tracker v3.3 maintains information on each preventive maintenance or repair event.
This allows the laboratory to generate a complete history of calibration and maintenance data for each pipette with the click of a button and receive early warnings if a pipette approaches its tolerance limits.
The pipette calibration data can be analysed in a variety of ways to generate customisable reports, including plotted graphs for visualisation of the data.
Pipette Tracker makes it possible to manage pipettes of any volume range, including large-volume pipettes.
This feature allows the user to manage the entire pipette population of an organisation in a single software program.
Pipette Tracker allows the user to print calibration labels and inventory labels for their pipettes.
The software can also be used to acquire and maintain records of pipetting performance assessments and the training of laboratory technicians, which may be required based on the regulatory framework under which the laboratory operates.
Artel is demonstrating the latest version of its Pipette Tracker software in conjunction with the Artel PCS in Booth 4039 at Pittcon 2011, which runs until 18 March in Atlanta, Georgia.
