LIMS/Samples

Who can use this feature? 

By default, users with Admin – LIMS/Samples permissions

Purpose

The Admin > LIMS/Samples section lets you configure various parts of the Lab module. This area allows you to add sample and test forms, labs, equipment, and other assets for use in Lab.

Some pages let you add, edit, or manage records, such as labs, equipment, etc. Each record includes buttons in its row, which you can use to perform quick actions on it:

• View record history (📅)
• Activate or deactivate the record (▶️/◼️)
• Copy the record (📂📄)
• Move the record (✂️)
• Edit the record (✏️)
• Reassign the record (🔧)
• Delete the record (✖️)

Click any area below for additional info: 

• Sample Forms: Add and manage sample forms 
• Test Forms: Manage test forms 
• Consolidated Forms: Manage consolidated forms 
• Test Groups: Create and manage Lab test groups 
• Labs: Manage physical lab locations 
• Capping Method: Manage capping methods 
• Remarks: Add, edit, or print active remarks 
• Fracture Types: Manage fracture types 
• Beam Failure Location: Add failure locations for selection in Lab forms 
• Beam Testing Conditions: Manage beam testing and beam forming methods 
• Bituminous Test Methods: Add bituminous test methods 
• Soil Proctors: Add soil proctor standards, sources, origins, and methods 
• Cylinder Correction Factors: Manage cylinder correction factors 
• Compressive Strength Alerts: Manage compressive strength alerts 
• Equipment: Manage lab equipment and equipment types 
• Specimen Sizes: Add specimen sizes for selection on Lab forms 
• Boring: Add sampler types, classifications, and water encounters for use on Boring records 
• Sample Administration: Delete, renumber, or move Lab samples 
• Search / Results Display: Customize search & results fields shown in Lab 
• Specifications: Add or import lab specifications 
• Material Specifications: Manage specifications for lab materials 

Note: Several Forms pages include prompts to explore the Forms Library, where you can add, customize, and manage forms in your MetaField environment. Click these for step-by-step guidance to access the Forms Library. 

LIMS - Sample Forms 

Sample forms are used to collect information about samples for lab testing. This page allows you to create, view, and edit sample forms as needed. Page actions include: 

• Add new sample forms  
• Adjust existing records (edit, activate, deactivate, etc.)   
• Copy and repurpose existing forms 
• Open forms in Form Designer by clicking the form name 

Each sample form must be linked to a material. To assign one, open the form in Form Designer and update the Sample Material in Form Settings. The selected material determines which tests can be applied in Lab; only tests with a matching test material are available for that sample. 

LIMS - Test Forms 

Test forms are used in the Lab module to collect data for various lab tests. MetaField includes many pre-built forms you can use as-is or customize to match your needs. This page makes it easy to manage all your lab test forms in one place. Page actions include: 

• Add new test forms 
• Adjust existing records (edit, copy, activate, deactivate, etc.) 
• Copy and repurpose existing forms 
• Open forms in Form Designer by clicking the form name 

Test forms must also be assigned to a material. However, test forms can be linked to multiple materials at once (e.g., the same test used for both soil and aggregate). To assign materials, open the form in Form Designer and update the Sample Material under Form Settings. 

LIMS - Consolidated Forms 

Consolidated forms are used to combine data from multiple test forms into one report. This is helpful for summarizing key results across tests from the same sample. Use this page to add and manage consolidated forms. Page actions include: 

• Add new consolidated forms 
• Adjust existing records (edit, activate, deactivate, etc.)   
• Copy and repurpose existing forms 
• Open forms in Form Designer by clicking the form name 

LIMS - Test Groups 

Test groups let you bundle lab tests that are performed together. This makes it easy for Lab users to assign multiple tests to a specimen at once, instead of adding them one by one. Use this page to create or update these groups. Page actions include: 

• Add new test groups 
• Search for groups by name and status (Active, Deleted, Inactive) 
• Adjust existing groups (edit, activate, delete, etc.)   

To create a new group, press Add Test Group. After selecting a name and associated material, check any tests you want to add to the group. Once finished, press Save. 

LIMS - Labs 

This page shows a simple list of your physical testing labs. Once a lab is added, Field users can log samples against it. Additionally, Lab users can filter to view and manage specimens specific to each lab. Page actions include: 

• Add new labs 
• Search your labs by name and status (Active, Deleted, Inactive) 
• Adjust existing labs (edit, activate, delete, etc.)  
• Add Calibration Notifications to notify lab managers about expiring calibrations 

Learn more

LIMS - Capping Method 

When entering concrete cast cylinder specimen data, Lab users select a code representing its capping method. This page lets you edit these available capping methods or add new ones. When adding a new method, you’ll fill out the following fields: 

• Code (i.e., short name) for your method 
• Description of the method 
• Standard (i.e., ASTM) associated with the method 
• Use as Default (If set to Yes, the Capping Method will automatically fill in with this Code when the Specified Strength (PSI) falls within this range) 
• Min & Max Specified Strength (The lower and upper specific strength range which will assign a default value) 

Note: Minimum and maximum strength ranges for capping methods cannot overlap. 

LIMS - Remarks 

When concrete testing data is entered into the Lab module, users must select a Break Remark code for each specimen. This code and associated description will be displayed on concrete reports. This page lets you add and edit these remarks as needed. 

When adding new remarks, you’ll fill out the following fields: 

• Sample Type associated with the remarks (If the same remark applies to multiple samples, the remark will need to be added multiple times) 
• Code (two characters) for each remark type (This code will display in the Lab and Review modules, and on the report) 
• Description of the new remarks 

You can generate a PDF list of active remark codes and descriptions by selecting Print Active Remarks. 

LIMS - Fracture Types 

When concrete data is entered in Lab, users must assign a code to the specimen representing its fracture type. This code will be displayed on concrete reports, along with an image illustrating the fracture type. Use this page to add fracture types or alter existing ones. 

LIMS - Beam Failure Location 

After a flexural strength test, Lab users must record where the concrete beam has been broken. Use this page to add or manage beam failure locations (e.g., Middle, Outer 1/3rd) for users to select on the test form. 

LIMS - Beam Testing Conditions 

This page lets you add or manage beam testing and beam forming methods for Lab users to input during flexural strength tests. Typical examples include: 
 
Beam Testing Methods: 

• Capped 
• Ground 
• Leather Shims 

Beam Forming Methods: 

• Molded 
• Sawed 
• Cored 

Note: System values can’t be deleted from either grid, but these values can be disabled at any time (press the Deactivate button) 

LIMS - Bituminous Test Methods 

When entering bituminous density results, Lab users must select a test method. Use this page to add or edit the available methods they can choose from. 
 
Bituminous test method example: 

Name: Rice Density 
Description: Theoretical Maximum Density 
Standard: ASTM D-2041 

LIMS - Soil Proctors 

Lab users can create proctors from the Lab > Soil Proctor Results area. Use this page to add or edit the available proctor standards, sources, origins, and methods they can select. 

LIMS - Cylinder Correction Factors 

This page lets you manage default correction factors based on H/D (height-to-diameter) ratios for cylinder-based tests. When test results are entered, the system will automatically apply the matching correction factor if one is defined here. 

• Standard values are pre-filled but can be edited. 
• Correction factors set in LIMS – Specifications will override any values set on this page. 

LIMS - Compressive Strength Alerts 

Use this page to set up alert rules for potentially low breaks in compressive strength tests. These alerts will help flag results in the Lab, Dashboard, and Review modules. Click Add Alert to define new alert rules. 

• Set alerts by sample type and test age range - you can be as specific as a 1-day window. 
• Age ranges for the same sample type and specified test age cannot overlap. 
• These alerts will appear in several areas of MetaField: 
• Dashboard - Low breaks appear in the queue 
• Lab data input - Highlighted red values for strength and spec percent 
• Lab queues - Same red highlights for quick scanning 
• Review - Red highlights on flagged values 

LIMS - Equipment 

Use this page to manage your inventory of lab equipment. You can track whether equipment requires calibration, when it was last calibrated, and store related calibration data. The page is split into two tabs: 

• Equipment lists individual pieces of lab equipment, organized by name, code, lab, type, etc. Each piece of equipment you add must be assigned to a lab. 
• Equipment Types are simple categories of equipment. You can create new equipment types to group similar types of equipment. 

Learn more

LIMS - Specimen Sizes 

Use this page to manage the available specimen sizes for concrete, grout, mortar, and generic samples.  

• Click Add Specimen Size to define a new size, and select the sample types or forms it applies to. 
• Add measurement values to each size as needed — these values will auto-fill in Lab forms during testing. 

Boring 

This page is used to manage the settings and options available for boring logs in MetaField. 

• Configure Sample Types, Classifications, and Water Encounter Types used in boring reports. 
• Add or update these items as needed; once configured, they’ll appear as selectable options during boring log data entry. 

LIMS - Sample Administration 

Use this page to manage concrete sample sets, including deleting or moving them to another project. 

• To begin, enter a project number to view and select the relevant sample sets. 
• Once selected, you can delete, move, or renumber them as needed. 
• Please notify the lab when samples are deleted or moved. 

LIMS - Search/Results Display 

Use this page to configure how users search for data in Lab and what appears in their search results. Click to select an area of Lab, then review or edit the area fields belonging to it. 

• Choose which fields users can filter by, and which ones appear in search results. 
• When adding a field, you’ll select a System Name - a unique name assigned when a field is created on a form. 
• A System Name can appear on multiple forms, allowing flexible searching across forms. 

LIMS - Specifications 

Use this page to define specification names and link them to one or more materials. These specifications can then be selected on many sample forms to indicate what standard the sample will be tested against. To add a specification: 

• Click Add 
• Enter a Specification Name 
• Select the Material(s) the specification applies to 

 If you have many specifications to add, use the Import Specifications button to upload them in bulk. 

LIMS - Material Specifications 

This page allows you to create and manage specifications for different materials, which can then be referenced in your forms and reports. Each material specification can include multiple Variants, and each Variant can define its own set of values and parameters. 

Learn more

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