We have already explored the ways in which BSI allows users to create container types, use those containers to build locations structures, and finally how to edit and manipulate these structures. Now we will focus on how BSI allows users to work with specimens and view specimen related data right from the Locations manager.
Once a structure has been established, it is often necessary to perform work on the specimens stored there. While some facilities perform regular and routine work on stored specimens, others may only interact with stored specimens to send them permanently to another facility. BSI accounts for all potential workflows by providing users with a broad set of tools. Utilizing these tools, users can do almost any of the work on specimens that can be done elsewhere in the system. From modifying specimen data, applying tasks like aliquoting or blinding, and transferring those specimens out to another facility, all a user needs to do is locate the specimens in the locations structure, highlight and right click. The Right click menu will contain an array of options, providing the user with time-saving and intuitive shortcuts to additional BSI system functionality.
In addition to performing work on specimens from the Locations manager, users can access a wide array of location and specimen data, ranging from quick looks at high level field values for selected specimen, to accessing the full reporting power of BSI. Likewise, users can run reports on specified containers and their contents. Users can even elect to show particular field values for each specimen within a box view so that important pieces of specimen data are available immediately, without the necessity to run reports at all.
Once a user becomes familiar with the Locations manager, it is often easy to perform most of the necessary work and collect most of the required specimen data without needing to navigate to other parts of the system. It is possible for a user to add specimens to the system, perform work on those specimens, report on them and finally transfer them to permanent locations all from the Location manager. By providing users with the tools to do this, BSI helps to increase workflow efficiency and increase system usability.