Overview

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 generate sample IDs and is not connected to the storage resource (e.g., it is unable to tell users which freezer locations are used).

Will It Work For Me?

StudyTRAX works well if:

Sample IDs are created externally (i.e., pre-labeled barcode stickers or some other system)
There is not a need for StudyTRAX to "be-aware" of freezer location usage. That is, StudyTRAX can track the location of any sample (see image below), but it is unable upon data entry to tell a user whether a given freezer location is being used.

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.
Sample specific search and navigation can be done from the Home page.
Bulk data import samples and associated characteristics is done via Excel and export of sample data through data sets (i.e., data sets)

Example Tissue Sample Form

Pre-Labeled Barcode Stickers

Purchasing pre-labeled barcode stickers (i.e., stickers with barcodes already on them) involves two things:

The cost of the stickers
The cost of the scanner (gun)

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. Thus, data entry staff click on the sample ID field in StudyTRAX, and then scan the sticker to enter the correct ID. Some example vendors include:

American Barcode & RFID (website), [[ 1-800-274-0324, ext: 1613]], approximately $600 to $900 for scanner and labels (about 4000 labels).
Barcoding Inc. (website) [[ 1-888-860-7226, ext: 161]], approximately $400 to $900 (2012 price) for scanner and user-defined labels (about 3000 labels).
Amazon search for barcode scanner and stickers here

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