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Hi, We have used a commercially available system called CLIP for about five years now. It's a simple DOS based program, running on an old 486, which was manufactured by Dataworks Development, Inc. ( www.dwdev.com ). They still sell CLIP but I am not sure if it is still DOS based or has moved to Windows. As far as I am concerned the DOS version is just fine. They also have a fancier version of CLIP called Freezerworks, also for tracking samples in your fridges and freezers which has more features. CLIP allows you to configure any number of storage locations, freezers, fridges, shelves, racks, etc. with their respective storage periods. Samples get logged into the system by assigning the sample ID number ( via a keyboard or a bar code scanner if your tubes already have bar codes ) to the next available empty storage position in a rack, or whatever your storage unit is. If you have a scanner, you just swipe your bar code in front of the scanner, the software beeps at you indicating the next empty position, and you place the sample into that position. It literally takes only a second. It does not link to your LIS and therefore does not store patient demographics, or tests ordered, only the ID number. Searching for an ID # of a sample in the database is simple, all you do is enter the ID and it gives you the location. Multiple occurences of the same ID number are no problem either. It's pretty cheap; the bar code scanner was actually the most expensive part of the project. The only drawbacks are a slightly confusing array of commands, and the fact that you have to figure out your own way of backing up the data base. When we bought it we had the software customized for us - we added a function to delete by rack, as we didn't like the delete by date option. Deleting by rack allows us to simply dump all racks with samples older than certain date (eg one week). Everyone in our lab likes it, and it saves hours of tech time every day. In terms of bang for the buck, and ease of implementation, it was one of the best investments we ever made in the lab. And no, I don't get paid by them... *********************************************************** Wolfgang Schneider Division of Medical Biochemistry, Montreal General Hospital 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada Phone (514)-934-1934 x 42782 Fax (514) 934-8086 Email: [log in to unmask] Manufactured only with 100% recyclable electrons *********************************************************** ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/