LabKey's specimen request interface uses a shopping cart model. Users who are granted specific
Specimen Requester permissions by an administrator can make requests as covered in this topic.
If you are completing the
specimen tutorial as an administrator, use the
(User) > Impersonate > Roles option to impersonate both a Reader and Specimen Requester to see what non-administrators will see.
If you are a Specimen Requester, and not an admin completing the full tutorial, this sample walkthrough can guide you through using a live request system, substituting the actual search terms and request parameters your job requires. You could also
complete the full tutorial using a free trial environment.
View and Search for Specimens
The
Specimen Data tab includes search and display options which can be configured to present the most useful groupings and options for users. Even a data "reader" who is not a specimen requester can search and view specimens here. Expand groupings in the
Specimens section using the
buttons next to the types.
Note that the tools use 'vial' terminology in the user interface, even if your specimen aliquots are something else, such as blocks of tissue.
Create a New Specimen Request
First identify specimens of interest.
- Click on the Specimen Data tab.
- Click on Urine under Vials by Primary Type in the Specimens web part.
- If you are an admin and see an error, make sure you are impersonating the Reader and Specimen Requester roles, then try again.
- Choose any specimen with multiple samples available to request, and click on its shopping cart.
- If you have not yet opened a specimen request, you will see a popup confirming the creation of a new request. Click Yes.
- Fill in the New Specimen Request page. For example:
- From the Requesting Location dropdown, select a demo value, for example, Northgate Diagnostics.
- Under Assay Plan, enter "Analyze specimens".
- Under Shipping Information, enter "123 Research Lane".
- Notice that the specimen you selected is listed at the bottom of the request.
- Click Create and View Details
You will be warned that your request has not been submitted. The summary page shows the information you have submitted so far.
- Click Return to Specimen View to return to the prior vial search results.
- Notice that the number of vials of the specimen you added to your request has gone down by one. The shopping cart icon is also no longer present, indicating that you do not need to "shop" further for that specimen. If you see a shopping cart with a small green check, it means that the vial has been added to your request, but the grid has not been refreshed yet.
Notes and troubleshooting the shopping cart column:
- If you do not see a shopping cart icon, but instead see a red target, there are no samples available for the given specimen.
- If you do not see anything between the checkbox column and history column, you may need to log in again, or you may not have Specimen Requester permissions.
Request More Specimens
You can add other specimens to the request before submitting it.
- Go to the Vial Search panel on the Specimen Data tab.
- Select Urine from the Primary Type pulldown.
- Click Search.
- Click a shopping cart icon to request that specimen.
- The Request Vial popup window lists the specimens already included in the request.
- If you have multiple open requests, you can select among them using the Select request pulldown. You can also click Create New Request to start another new one.
- Review the list of vials currently in the request to confirm you want to add the newly selected one to this list. Then click one of the buttons:
- Add [Vial Number] to Request.
- Remove Checked Vials. Clicking the checkbox to the left of any vial lets you select it for deletion. Click Remove checked vials to delete.
- Manage Request. Provides access to Request Details, Submit Request, and Cancel Request options.
- Click Add [Vial number] to Request.
- Click OK.
Add Multiple Specimens to Existing or New Request
You can add multiple specimens to a specimen request simultaneously using the checkboxes next to each specimen row.
- Select two specimens (showing availability with shopping carts) using checkboxes.
- Use the Request Options drop-down menu to select Add to Existing Request.
- Confirm that the desired request is selected at the top of the popup window and click Add 2 Vials to Request.
- Click OK.
Submit the Request
- Click the Specimen Data tab.
- In the Specimens web part, open the Specimen Requests option.
- Click View Current Requests.
- Click Details to view a request. Note that any requirements that will need to be completed before the request can be filled will be marked in bold red as Incomplete.
- When you confirm the request is complete, click Submit Request.
- Click OK in the popup window. Once a request is submitted you can no longer modify the list of specimens it is requesting.
To continue with the specimen tutorial, you will now need to return to Admin or Specimen Coordinator permissions. If you are impersonating a Specimen Requester, use the
Stop Impersonating button or
(User) > Adjust Impersonation to switch impersonated roles.
