LabKey Sample Manager makes it easy to manage samples, storage, data collection, and workflows in a small or medium size lab environment. Learn more about the features and capabilities of Sample Manager on our website.

This topic details changes and enhancements in each release as a guide to help users track changes.

Release 22.4, April 2022

• In the Sample Finder, apply multiple filtering expressions to a given column of a parent or source type. (docs)
• Download templates from more places, making it easier to import samples, sources, and assay data from files. (docs)

Release 22.3, March 2022

• Sample Finder: Find samples based on source and parent properties, giving users the flexibility to locate samples based on relationships and lineage details. (docs)
• Redesigned main dashboard featuring storage information and prioritizing what users use most. (docs)
• Updated freezer overview panel and dashboards present storage summary details. (docs)
• Available freezer capacity is shown when navigating freezer hierarchies to store, move, and manage samples. (docs | docs)
• Storage labels and descriptions give users more ways to identify their samples and storage units. (docs)

Release 22.2, February 2022

• New Storage Editor and Storage Designer roles, allowing admins to assign different users the ability to manage freezer storage and manage sample and assay definitions. (docs)
• Note that users with the "Administrator" and "Editor" role no longer have the ability to edit storage information unless they are granted one of these new storage roles.
• Multiple permission roles can be assigned to a new user at once. (docs)
• Sample Type Insights panel summarizes storage, status, etc. for all samples of a type. (docs)
• Sample Status options are shown in a hover legend for easy reference. (docs)
• When a sample is marked as "Consumed", the user will be prompted to also change it's storage status to "Discarded" (and vice versa). (docs | docs)
• User-defined barcodes in integer fields can also be included in sample definitions and search-by-barcode results. (docs)
• Search menu includes quick links to search by barcode or sample ID. (docs)
• See and set the value of the "genId" counter for naming patterns. (docs)

Release 22.1, January 2022

• A new Text Choice data type lets admins define a set of expected text values for a field. (docs)
• Naming patterns will be validated during sample type definition. (docs)
• Editable grids include visual indication when a field offers dropdown choices. (docs)
• Add freezer storage units in bulk. (docs)
• User-defined barcodes can be included in Sample Type definitions as text fields and are scanned when searching samples by barcode. (docs | docs)
• If any of your Sample Types include samples with only strings of digits as names, these could have overlapped with the "rowIDs" of other samples, producing unintended results or lineages. With this release, such ambiguities will be resolved by assuming that a sample name has been provided. (docs)

Release 21.12, December 2021

• The Sample Count by Status graph on the main dashboard now shows samples by type (in bars) and status (using color coding). Click through to a grid of the samples represented by each block. (docs)
• Grids that may display multiple Sample Types, such as picklists, workflow tasks, etc. offer tabs per sample type, plus a consolidated list of all samples. This enables actions such as bulk sample editing from mixed sample-type grids. (picklists | tasks | sources)
• Improved display of color coded sample status values. (docs)
• Include a comment when updating storage amounts or freeze/thaw counts. (docs)
• Workflow tasks involving assays will prepopulate a grid with the samples assigned to the job, simplifying assay data entry. (docs)

Release 21.11, November 2021

• Archive an assay design so that new data is disallowed, but historic data can be viewed. (docs)
• Manage sample status, including but not limited to: available, consumed, locked. (docs)
• An additional reserved field "SampleState" has been added to support this feature. If your existing Sample Types use user defined fields for recording sample status, you will want to migrate to using the new method.
• Incorporate lineage lookups into sample naming patterns (docs)
• Assign a prefix to be included in the names of all Samples and Sources created in a given project (docs)
• Prevent users from creating their own IDs/Names in order to maintain consistency using defined naming patterns (docs)

Release 21.10, October 2021

• Customize the aliquot naming pattern. (docs)
• Record the physical location of freezers you manage, making it easier to find samples across distributed sites. (docs)
• Contact us to have your Freezer Location hierarchy configured.
• Manage all samples and aliquots created from a source more easily. (docs)
• Comments on workflow job tasks can be formatted in markdown and multithreaded. (docs)
• Redesigned job tasks page. (docs)

Release 21.9, September 2021

• Edit sources and parents of samples in bulk
• View all samples (and aliquots) created from a given Source
• Lineage graphs changed to show up to 5 generations instead of 3
• Redesigned job overview page

Release 21.8, August 2021

• Aliquot views available at the parent sample level. See aggregate volume and count of aliquots and sub-aliquots.
• Find Samples using barcodes or sample IDs
• Import aliases for sample Sources and Parents are shown in the Sample Type details and included in downloaded templates.
• Improved interface for managing workflow jobs and templates.

Release 21.7, July 2021

• Sample actions can be initiated from Freezer views
• Sample actions can be initiated from Source detail views

Release 21.6, June 2021

• Create Aliquots of samples singly or in bulk
• Create and manage Picklists of samples to simplify operations on groups of samples
• Track movement of storage units within a freezer, or to another freezer
• Minor change in freezer editing behavior that the hierarchy is initially collapsed.

Release 21.5, May 2021

• Copy a Freezer definition
• Samples and Sources can include images and other file attachments

Release 21.4, April 2021

• Barcode generation for Samples
• When inferring fields to create Sources, Sample Types, and Assay Designs from a spreadsheet, any "reserved" fields present will not be shown in the inferral, simplifying the creation process
• When importing data, any unrecognized fields will be ignored and a banner will be shown
• On the main menu, "My Assigned Work" has been renamed "My Queue"

Release 21.3, March 2021

• A new Tube Rack type of freezer storage unit has been added
• Derive samples from one or more parent samples
• Pool multiple samples into a set of new samples
• The field editor offers a new "Summary" view

Release 21.2, February 2021

• The field editor now includes checkboxes to enable deletion of multiple fields and export of subsets of fields.
• Background Import:
• Removal of previous size limits on data import
• Progress reporting for asynchronous imports
• In-app Notifications when background imports are complete

Release 21.1, January 2021

• Freezer Management
• Match your digital storage to your physical storage
• Store and locate samples with ease
• Monitor usage and capacity in graphical dashboards
• Track volume, freeze/thaw counts, and comments during check in/out events

Release 20.12, December 2020

• Detailed audit logging now shows only what has changed when data is updated.

Release 20.11, November 2020

• Batching of creating samples and sources, enabling selection of "just created" items.

Release 20.10, October 2020

• Integration with BarTender to print labels.

Release 20.9, September 2020

• A new tutorial is available to help you get started with a new/empty instance of sample manager. Try it here: Tutorial: Learn Sample Manager
• Label colors are shown in the samples section of the main dashboard.
• In anticipation of future support for Freezer Management, underlying functionality like the ability to access storage locations from the main menu have been added.

Release 20.8, August 2020

• Sample Types can have custom Label Color assignments to help users differentiate them. (docs)
• In anticipation of future support for Freezer Management, underlying functionality like the ability to see the storage location of a sample has been added. These facilities are not yet visible in the application interface.

Release 20.7, July 2020

• Improved search experience. Filter and refine search results. (docs)

Release 20.6, June 2020

• Bug fixes and small improvements

Release 20.5, May 2020

• Use Sample Timelines to track all events involving a given sample.
• Detailed audit logging has been improved for samples, under the new heading "Sample Timeline Events."
• Sample Types can be created by inferring fields from a file, or by defining fields manually. Source types offer the same convenience.
• Editing of sample parents is now available.
• The definition of Sample Types can now include "Source Alias" columns, similar to parent aliases already available.

Release 20.4, April 2020

• The creation interface for Sample Types has been merged to a single page showing both properties and fields. This makes it easier to create naming expressions that use fields in your Sample Type.
• Define Sources for your samples. The source of a sample could be an individual or a cell line or a lab. Tracking metadata about the source of samples, both biological and physical, can unlock new insights.

Release 20.3, March 2020

• Samples can be added to a workflow job during job creation. You no longer need to start a job after selecting samples of interest, but can add or update the samples directly within the job editing interface.
• Removing unnecessary fields is easier with an icon shown in the collapsed field view.

February 2020

• LabKey Sample Manager is Launched!