Creating the Extraction Plate:

For DNA extraction, the samples are transferred to the 96 wells of an S-block. Each sample is now only defined by its physical position in the block = virtual position on the plate in the LIMS.

Once you are logged in the Biocode Plugin click on the New Reaction icon in the navigation bar and then select the settings Extraction and 96 well plate in the pop-up window:

A view of the plate opens where the arrangement of the samples in the wells will be set.

Enter the plate name in the format described above: CaBOL_Extr_####.

Click on the Bulk Edit symbol and a new window opens:

In the column Tissue Sample Id the sample numbers (CaBOL IDs as they are in the DC) can be entered (typed, copied or scanned). Position H12 should contain the negative control N. When arranging the samples on the plate, try not to place samples of the same species in nearby wells, if possible. This later will help to detect possible cross contaminations.

Make sure that the correct reading direction of the plate (line-by-line or column-by-column) is set via Swap Direction.

After entering the Tissue Sample IDs select Generate New Extraction Ids via the Tools icon:

In case that the specific CaBOL ID/ specimen is extracted for the first time, the Extraction ID will have a .1 at the end of the CaBOL ID. For any further extractions of the same number/ specimen the system would automatically recognize the number and would add .2, .3, .4, … to the end.

You can subsequently add samples to an already created plate. This message Extraction IDs already exist opens: Click No here so that the samples already created are kept.

Press OK to close the Edit Plate window and return to the plate view. Print out plate layout with sample numbers to take to the lab.

The Edit All Wells icon should be used to enter the laboratory information for the plate. These information will later be stored in the corresponding entries in the DC.

Enter the Date (1st day of extraction = putting (sub)sample into lysis), Extraction Method; Dilution, Extraction Volume and who processed the sample.

Press OK to close the Edit Wells window and return to the plate view.

Close the plate view with OK and the new plate is saved .