Overview	Top

Consumable Lots are an instance of a pre-defined Consumable Type that has been received from a Vendor or mixed. Consumable Types are pre-defined with specific Consumable and Container information. A Consumable Lot consists of Containers (Trackitems) which can be managed, keeping track of available amounts, expiration and reorder information.

Choose to create Quality Samples to test Consumable Lots for quality, and to obtain pertinent information about the Consumable (such as concentration).

You can also set up a process for approving a Consumable Lot before use.

 

Creating New Consumable Lots	Top

To Add New Consumable Lots, navigate to:

LIMS

→

Consumables

→

New Consumable Lots

The New Consumable Lots list page displays. Any existing Consumable Lots that have not yet been Activated display.

When adding a new Consumable Lot you have several options:

Whether you choose "Mix Consumable" or "Receive Consumable" the process is the same. When Receiving a Consumable, provide vendor and receipt information. When mixing a Consumable, provide mixing information (such as mixed by and the date it was mixed) as well as the recipe and any instructions. Using the "Mix Consumable Using Worksheet" button lets you add Consumables using a predefined Worksheet.

Receiving and Mixing Consumables	Top

The "Receive Consumable" button adds Consumables purchased from a vendor. The "Mix Consumable" button defines a simple recipe for mixing Consumables (see Mix Consumable Using a Worksheet to define a more complex mixing process using a Worksheet). The Add Consumable Lot page displays.

Detail tabs display where you can define specific information about the Consumable Lots you want to create. Vendor tabs are available where you can define Vendor information.

Provide general information about the Consumable Lot. Selecting the Consumable Type fills in default information defined at the Consumable Type level.

Define the quantities and Containers for this Consumable Lot. This information defaults from the Consumable Type and can be edited here. To see an example of how these might be defined, see the Consumable Example.

These values represent the entire amount of the Consumable Lot.

For Example, the Consumable might be in the form of Tablets. If you plan to receive (or mix) 100 Tablets and plan to store them in a 100 Tablet Bottle, the Initial Amount will be 100, the Container Type would be a 100 Tablet Bottle, and the Initial Containers would be 1.

When defining Amounts, you must specify either an Initial Amount and Amount Unit or Initial Containers. Container Type is also required.

This tab displays only when you are Receiving a Consumable.

Lookup and choose a specific Vendor Item to add details about the Vendor supplying the Consumable. Vendor Items are unique Manufacturer/Supplier combinations that are defined at the Consumable Type level. See Consumable Type Vendors for details about defining Vendor Items.

Descriptive notes.

Containers are created according to the Container details defined in the Expected Amount fields of the Container Type.

Each Container is assigned a Trackable Item which monitors (optionally) the Container's use. For an example of how to use these, see the Consumable Example.

Using the buttons in the Container Tab you can do the following:

Containers List

Access the Containers List by clicking the Container Count field on any of the Consumable list pages (except Historical). The Containers List page displays.

From here you can View the Track Item, Check In and Check Out Containers and Dispose Containers.

In order to use Consumables during Data Entry you must define Consumable Parameters. The list of Parameters available here is determined by the Parameter List referenced in the Consumable Params field of the Consumable Type.

For this Consumable Lot to be available during Data Entry, these Parameters must correspond to the Parameters listed in the Test Method associated with the Samples to be tested.

The Consumable Params detail identifies the Parameter associated with this Consumable Lot and any stored values obtained by either testing the received Consumable or entered using the Vendor CofA.

For an example of how to use these, see the Consumable Example.

Associating a Consumable Type with a Parameter List

In order for a Consumable Lot to be available during Data Entry, the Consumable Type on which it is based must be listed in the Consumable Type tab on the Parameter List. During Data Entry, all Consumable Lots for that Consumable Type will be available. The exception to this is when a specific Consumable Type Version is listed, in which case only Lots associated with that Version will be displayed.

Averaging Multiple Replicates of Quality Samples

While it is possible that the Quality Sample may have multiple Replicates, the Consumable Lot's SDIData data structure (shown on the Consumable Lot's Parameter tab), should have only a single Replicate per Parameter. That is because the Consumable Lot's SDIData data structure is to store the definitive actual value per Parameter for this Consumable Lot. It does not define multiple Replicates per Parameter. If the Quality Sample requires multiple Replicates to determine the actual value, the Parameter List on the Quality Sample must calculate an average value, and it should be that average value that is transferred from the Quality Sample to the Consumable Lot's SDIData data structure. If you do not define the average Parameter, it is likely that the last Replicate value is transferred to the Consumable Lot's SDIData structure.

Consumable Params and AQC

Values defined or collected here are used by certain AQC Calculations. See QC Methods → QC Method Sample Types for more information about using Consumable Lots to provide values (such as concentration) to AQC Calculations.

Certification is for managing with which Parameter Lists a Consumable is certified to be used. Typically, a Consumable is used by all Parameter Lists that require it. By default, an asterisk is inserted indicating that the Consumable can be used with all Parameter Lists. You could however opt to limit the Parameter Lists with which a Consumable can be used by defining them here.

Add or Remove Parameter Lists using the "Add" or "Remove" buttons.

Approval Types and Approval Steps are defined at the Consumable Type level and are for approving the Consumable Lot. When Approvals are defined, the Consumable Lot moves to the "Consumable Lots For Approval" list with a Status of Pending Approval. Here you can assign a User to the Approval.

Sample used to test the Consumable Lot. For an example, see Enter Data for the Quality Sample in the Consumable Example.

When Quality Samples are Rejected

When a Consumable Quality Sample is Rejected, the Approver is given the following options for the Consumable Lot:

Defines the Recipe used to make Consumable Lots.

Obtain Used Amount from Instrument

When an Instrument is defined in the Consumable Type ("Instrument Type", "Instrument Model" and "Instrument Field" fields), a lookup displays next to the Use Amount field.

Clicking the lookup opens the Instrument Connection dialog.

From the dropdown, choose the Instrument and click "Get Result". The actual Amount Used is filled in from the Instrument.

Specifies the Instrument Type used to make the Consumable.

Once the Consumable Lot is Saved, you can add a Quality Sample using the "Add Sample" button. Clicking the button immediately adds the Sample. You can then view the Sample in the Quality Samples Tab.

Mix Consumables Using a Worksheet	Top

The "Mix consumables Using Worksheet" button lets you use Worksheets to manage all aspects of the Consumable Lot.

Clicking the "Mix consumables Using Worksheet" button opens the Mix Consumable Using Worksheet dialog.

Choose the type of Consumable you are mixing. The Consumable Types available in the lookup are those that have the "Mix Consumables LES Worksheet Template" listed in the Worksheet Templates detail of the Consumable Type.

The remaining fields default from the Consumable Type. Make any changes as necessary.

Clicking "OK" opens the Worksheet Manager where you can manage all details of the Consumer Lot. See ELN/LES Worksheet Manager for details about using Worksheets.

Create Worksheet and Create and Assign Worksheet for Consumable Lot	Top

"Create LES Worksheet" Generates a Worksheet for the selected Consumable Lot. Create & Assign LES Worksheet generates a Worksheet and assigns a User to that Worksheet. See LES Worksheet Manager for more information.

Activation of Consumable Lots	Top

Once you have filled in all necessary information and "Save" the Consumable Lot, the Status becomes Active based on the following:

Assign Analyst	Top

Assign an Analyst to the Consumable Lot. Select the Consumable Lot and click "Assign Analyst". The Choose Analyst dialog opens.

Choose the Analyst you want to assign to the Consumable Lot and click "Select & Return".

The selected Analyst displays in the "Assigned Analyst" column.

Approving Consumable Lots	Top

If, when defining the Consumable Type, an Approval Process was included the Approval process defaults to the Consumable Lot when added (see Approvals tab for details). When Saved, the Consumable Lot moves to the Consumable Lots For Approval list page where you can select the Lot for Approval.

Select the Consumable Lot you want to Approve and click the "Review" button. The Approvals window opens where you can Approve or Reject the Consumable Lot. If "Approved" the Status becomes Active and moves to the Consumable Lots list. If "Rejected", it moves to the Historical Consumable Lots list with a Status of Rejected.

Managing Consumable Lots	Top

Once Added and Activated, Consumable Lots are listed on the Consumable Lots list page. Here you can manage Consumable Lots and their Containers.

In addition to Edit, View and Delete Consumable Lots, you can perform the following operations:

Activate and Deactivate Consumable Lots

If you need to make a Consumable Lot Inactive select the Lot and click the "Deactivate button", you will be prompted for your Esig information. The Status becomes Inactive and the Lot remains on the Consumable Lot list page. To return the Inactive Lot to Active select the Lot and click the "Activate" button. The status returns to Active.

Expire Consumable Lots

Should you need to Expire a Consumable Lot select the Lot to Expire and click the "Expire" button, you are prompted for your Esig information. The Status changes to Expired and the Consumable Lot moves to the Historical Consumable Lots list.

Cancel a Consumable Lot

You can Cancel a Consumable Lot while the Status is Initial. On the New Consumable Lots list page select the Consumable Lot and click the "Cancel" button. If Quality Samples have been created they will also be Cancelled. The Lot is Cancelled and moves to the Historical Consumable Lots list.

Historical Consumable Lots	Top

Consumable Lots move to the Historical Consumable Lots list when they have the following Status:

Note: Once a Consumable Lot moves to the Historical List Page it cannot be returned to any other Status.

Using Consumables During Data Entry	Top

Consumable Lots with a Status of Active are available during Data Entry.

From the Data Entry Page select the Parameter for which you want to choose a Consumable and click "Choose Consumable".

The Consumable Chooser dialog displays.

The information, and how it displays, depends on decisions made when configuring the Consumable Data Entry Page and whether or not you choose to Manage Container Inventory (Consumable Type). See Configuring the Consumable Data Entry page for details.

In the example above Consumable Lot and Container information are editable and automatically loaded (ConsumableDataEntry Page Type and UseConsumable Page Type - AutoLoadConsumableContainer) and Container Inventory is Managed (Consumable Type - Expected Amount Tab - Manage Container Inventory Flag checked).

Combine Multiple Consumable Lot Containers

To combine multiple Consumable Container Lots into one "Virtual" Lot, select multiple Consumable Lot Containers and click "Select and Return".

Upon clicking "Select and Return" the Combine Consumable Containers dialog opens.

Clicking "Combine and Return" creates a Virtual Lot to represent the combined lots.

Within the Virtual Lot you can define Consumable Parameters and make Consumable Lot or Container changes by clicking theEdit icon. The Edit Virtual Lot dialog opens.

Choose a different Consumable Lot or Container, or change the Use Amount and Unit.

In the Consumable Params detail view the associated Parameters and their values.

You can edit the Consumable Lot Attributes by selecting a Parameter and clicking "Edit".

Make any necessary changes then "Save" the virtual Lot. Upon returning to the Consumable Chooser Dialog, all Container details are refreshed.

Note that Container (Trackitem) TI_0493683 is now the default Container for Consumable Lot RL-0000030, with 9 ml available (TI-0493681 was emptied, and 1ml was used from TI_0493683). Click "Save" to finish.

The combined Virtual Lot is referenced on the QC Batch. The edit icon is available for making changes.

Configure the Consumable Data Entry and Combine Consumable Containers Pages

Customize the Consumable Chooser (ReagentDataEntry Page) by defining the columns that display and whether or not Consumable Lot and Container values are editable. See UseConsumable Page Type and ConsumableDataEntry Page Type for more details about configuring the Consumable Data Entry page.

Customize buttons on the Consumable Chooser and Combine Consumable Containers (CombineReagent Page) dialog boxes using the Page Property Manager, Advanced Toolbar options (LV_ReagentDataEntry and CombineReagent).

Using Consumables in AQC	Top

When creating QC Batches, define Consumable Lots and Containers for use during QC Batch Data Entry. In the QC Batch Sample Types tab and Consumables tabs define Consumable information. See QC Batches for more information about defining and creating QC Batches.

In the QC Batch Sample Types tab enter the Consumable Lot and Container you want to use during Data Entry. Enter the Amount and Unit of the Consumable you are using.

In the Consumables tab choose the Consumable Lot and Container (Trackitem) to be used in every position.

During Data Entry clicking the "Choose Consumable" button displays the Consumable Data Entry page where you can choose the Consumable you want to use. The Consumable Lots available will be based on the information you enter here.

See Using Consumables During Data Entry for information about the Consumables Data Entry page and how it can be customized.