Overview

When samples are stored off site there may be a need to retain that information in StudyTRAX.  A unique barcode ID is created for each sample and that ID is linked from StudyTRAX to the off-site sample.

Summary of Match with StudyTRAX

StudyTRAX does not a have formal Tissue Banking component.  Instead, sample tracking is managed in a similar fashion as all other clinical data.  This works well in some cases and not in others.  In sum, you can create forms to capture any desired tissue sample characteristics and link the form to an externally generated ID (i.e., using pre-bar coded labels).  The main limitations are StudyTRAX does NOT automatically generate a sample ID and the bar code ID field is not indexed (making frequent sample look-up inpartical). 

Will It Work For Me?

How It Would Look And Feel In StudyTRAX

• A tissue sample form would be created that captures desired sample characteristics.  It would also contain a field for the externally generated barcode ID
• A pre-labeled barcode sticker would be afixed to each sample, the form data would be completed, and the barcode ID would be scanned into the appropriate field.
• A dataset would be created of all tissue samples, and queries for specific samples would be handled through a filter in StudyTRAX or exported and done via Excel 

Pre-Labeled Barcode Stickers 

Cost and functionality of separate barcode software / scanner

• At it's most basic entry point, nearly all barcode scanners use pre-coded labels with a bar code identifying scheme based on your needs such that the scanner can read the labels  which in turn mimics keyboard strokes for entry into other applications.  Additional sample characteristics will be stored in StudyTRAX.  Thus, only the basics are needed (i.e., pre-labeled stickers with barcode IDs, scanner that trigger keyboard for data entry).  Some examples include:
  • American Barcode & RFID, [[ 1-800-274-0324, ext: 1613]], approximately $600 to $900 (2012 price) for scanner and labels (about 4000 labels).
  • Barcoding Inc., [[ 1-888-860-7226, ext: 161]], approximately $400 to $900 (2012 price) for scanner and user-defined labels (about 3000 labels). Link to product: http://www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Bar+Code+Scanning/Bar+Code+Scanners/General+Purpose+Scanners/LS2208_US-EN