Does anyone use the feature of auto allocating containers to specimens? Or do you always select containers manually?
The reason I am not sure if it is useful feature is because the current auto-allocate algorithm will show containers which have even 1 empty slot. So if you have 10 specimens to collect, it might show 10 different containers, each with one empty slot.
If you use this feature, please describe how you use it.
Thanks,
~Sri
Yes the auto storage feature can be very useful and is used by many labs here. The auto storage will assist labs in fully utilizing storage space in a freezer. If a lab using the auto feature from the beginning and stores aliquots in separate containers, the user would not run into the issue of OS returning multiple containers with one position.
What it ultimately comes down to is where do you want to save time…do you want to put the specimens away in the freezer quickly, which will most likely require more time to pull the specimens later for request or do you want to spend a little more time putting them away in an organized manner to allow for quicker retrieval of specimens for requests? Personally I would rather store the specimens in an organized manner and efficiently use all the space my freezer has to offer. But this does then require a little bit of planning on the end users part. In order for the OS to select the storage positions the “make sense” the user needs to use the restriction features when creating a storage container. We assign the CP and specimen type to a storage container and create a few boxes as we need them. If a study closes and there is still room in the box then we will add a new study to that box to maximize the storage.
Updates from community call on 11/03:
a. Auto allocation is important
b. Auto allocation should prompt the least used container at the top. This will avoid showing containers with 1-2 slots empty.
~Sri