Discard a Rack of Specimens

With a continuous stream of incoming specimens and a finite amount of storage space, regular racked specimen disposal is a necessity for most operations. tube.tracker facilitates this process by enabling users to set an expiration date for racks added to the system. The expiration date allows tube.tracker to generate lists of expired racks that are ready for disposal. tube.tracker retains specimen information long after the physical specimens have been discarded helping laboratories eliminate the need for cumbersome or inefficient systems of specimen storage.

Opening the Rack Management - Container Selection Screen

1. Click Manage in the Navigation Menu under the heading Racks.
2. The Rack Management - Container Selection Screen will be displayed. This screen contains a list of containers and a link that will display a screen showing all expired racks in all containers. The Container Name for each of the containers in the list will be a clickable link.

Locating Expired Racks

While any rack may be deleted using the methods described below, this process is primarily designed for locating and purging expired racks. There are two methods for locating expired racks from the Rack Management - Container Selection Screen:

1. Locating Expired Racks in All Containers
2. Locating Expired Racks in One Container

Locating Expired Racks in All Containers

1. Click the Show all expired racks in all containers link.
2. The All Expired Racks Screen will be displayed showing all expired racks in all containers.
3. Select the check boxes that correspond to the racks being deleted.
4. Click the Delete Racks Button to delete the selected racks.
5. The Rack Deletion Confirmation Screen will be displayed listing the Rack ID for racks being deleted.
6. Select the Add Note Check Box to display the Add Note Text Box in which a note about deleting this rack can be entered if desired.
7. Click the Yes Button to delete the rack and return to the All Expired Racks Screen. Click the No Button to return to the All Expired Racks Screen without deleting the rack.

Locating Expired Racks in One Container

1. Click on the Container Name Link corresponding to the container in which the racks being discarded reside.
2. The Rack Management - Rack Selection Screen will be displayed listing all of the racks currently residing in the selected container with all pertinent information on each rack in the container.
   • Racks are sorted by expiration date and the information about each rack, such as rack type and expiration date, is color coded for quick reference.
     • Expired rack's information is displayed in red text.
     • Active rack's information is displayed in black text.
     • Locked rack's information is displayed in blue text.
3. Click the Show Expired Racks Button to display only racks that are expired if desired.
4. Select the check boxes corresponding to the racks being deleted.
5. Click the Delete Racks Button to delete the selected racks.
6. The Rack Deletion Confirmation Screen will be displayed listing the Rack ID for each of the racks being deleted.
7. Select the Add Note Check Box to display the Add Note Text Box in which a note about deleting this rack can be entered if desired.
8. Click the Yes Button to delete the rack and return to the Rack Management - Rack Selection Screen. Click the No Button to return to the Rack Management - Rack Selection Screen without deleting the rack.