Lab Technician Guide
Complete guide for processing samples and managing lab operations
As a Lab Technician, you have access to the admin portal where you can manage kit orders, process samples, update workflow statuses, and generate reports. This guide covers all the tools and features available to you.
Admin Dashboard
Access the admin dashboard at /admin/dashboard.
Your dashboard provides an overview of all lab operations:
📊 Statistics Cards
- • Total kit orders pending
- • Samples in processing
- • Orders awaiting shipment
- • Reports ready for delivery
🔗 Quick Actions
- • View all kit orders
- • Access sample management
- • Generate reports
- • Manage users (if admin)
Managing Kit Orders
Kit Order Management
Navigate to /admin/kit-orders to see all customer kit orders.
Order Statuses
Processing a Kit Order
Review Order Details
Click on an order to view customer info, shipping address, and plate count.
Print Barcodes
Generate and print unique barcodes for each plate in the order.
Generate Shipping Label
Create UPS shipping label through the integrated shipping system.
Mark Ready to Ship
Update status to schedule UPS pickup for the package.
UPS Integration
The system automatically creates UPS shipments when you mark orders as "Ready to Ship". Tracking numbers are automatically saved and shared with customers.
Shipping & Labels
Generating Shipping Labels
Verify Lab Address
Ensure your lab's return address is configured in Settings → Lab Address.
Click "Generate Label"
On the kit order details page, click the label generation button.
Download & Print
Download the PDF label and print it on standard label paper.
Retry Failed Shipments
If a UPS shipment fails (e.g., address validation error), you can retry:
- Fix the issue (update address, check lab settings)
- Click "Retry UPS Label Creation" on the order page
- The system will attempt to create a new shipment
Required: Lab Address
You must configure your lab's shipping address in Settings before generating labels. This is the "Ship From" address for all outgoing packages.
Sample Processing
Sample Management
Access sample management at /admin/samples.
You can view all submitted samples, search by company/customer, and manage their status.
Search & Filter
- • Search by sample name, species, or customer
- • Filter by status (submitted, processing, completed)
- • Filter by sample type (DNA, tissue, seed)
- • View by kit order or plate barcode
Sample Statuses
Workflow Management
Lab Workflow Steps
Each kit order has a workflow with multiple steps. Access workflows from the kit order details page.
1. Receive Samples
Confirm samples have been received at the lab
2. DNA Extraction
Extract DNA from tissue/seed samples
3. Quantification
Measure DNA concentration and quality
4. Normalization
Normalize DNA concentrations for array
5. Genotyping
Run samples on Illumina array
6. Script Execution
Run analysis scripts and upload results
7. Report Generation
Generate and upload final reports
Updating Workflow Status
Click on each step to start it, upload results, or mark it complete. Customers are notified automatically when key milestones are reached.
Plate Map Management
Viewing Plate Maps
Access plate mappings at /admin/samples/plate-mappings.
Features
- Visual Plate View: 96-well plate visualization showing occupied wells
- Sample Details: Click wells to view sample information
- Drag & Drop: Reassign samples to different wells
- Comments: Add comments to plates or specific wells
Adding Comments
- Click "Comment on Plate" for plate-level comments
- Double-click a well to comment on that specific position
- Comments are visible to the customer and trigger notifications
Barcode Generation
Printing Plate Barcodes
Each plate in a kit order needs a unique barcode for tracking through the lab workflow.
Navigate to Kit Order
Go to the kit order details page.
Click "Print Barcodes"
This generates barcodes for all plates in the order.
Download & Print
Download the barcode PDF and print on label sheets.
Apply to Plates
Apply barcode labels to each plate before packaging.
Report Generation
Uploading Reports
When analysis is complete, upload reports through the workflow management page.
Complete Analysis Steps
Ensure all prior workflow steps are marked complete.
Upload Results Files
In the Script Execution step, upload analysis results (CSV, XLSX).
Upload Final Report
In the Report Generation step, upload the final report (PDF, XLSX).
Complete Workflow
Mark workflow complete - customer is notified automatically.
Lab Settings
Configure Lab Settings
Access settings at /settings to configure lab-specific settings.
📍 Lab Address
Set the lab's shipping origin address for UPS labels. This is required for shipping functionality.
👤 Profile
Update your name, phone number, and email preferences.