VWorks Setup Guide : Tracking and managing labware in storage : Using a plate group to process labware
Using a plate group to process labware
About this topic
This topic shows an example protocol where a plate group is moved out of a Labware MiniHub, transferred to a liquid-handling device where liquid is aspirated, and then loaded back into the same or different locations of the Labware MiniHub.
Who should read this
Read this topic if your lab automation system has incubators and random-access storage devices such as the Labware MiniHub.
Before you start
•
Place the labware in Labware MiniHub and make sure the labware are added to the Inventory Editor.
•
Create a plate group containing the labware that you want to process.
To enable the software to track individual plates:
•
Under Protocol Options, select the Dynamically assign empty slot to load to storage device option.
Processing a plate group and returning the plates to the original location
To process a plate group:
1
Create a process like the one shown below.
 
2
Select the Unload task, and in the Task Parameters area, click the Groups tab and drag the plate group to the Assigned location area.
3
If you want the labware to be handled in the same numerical order or will not be reusing the labware, select Remove plates from group when processed.
Note: The labware can be loaded back into the group during the Load task execution.
 
4
Select the Load task and then select Use original locations. The Locations and Native tabs will become unavailable.
 
Optional. You can reassign the labware back to the original group or to a new plate group. Click the Groups tab and drag the plate group from the Available groups area to the Assigned locations area.
 
5
Click Start.
6
In the Number of Cycles dialog box, enter a number that is equal to or less than the number of labware that you want to process from the group.
7
Click OK.
8
To confirm that the labware have been returned to their original position in the inventory:
a
Click the Load task.
b
Click Edit location groups or Edit plate groups.
c
Click the Inventory Management tab.
Processing a plate group and returning the labware to a different location
To process a plate group:
1
Create a protocol like the one shown below.
 
2
Select the Unload task. In the Task Parameters area, click the Groups tab and drag the plate group to the Assigned locations or groups area.
 
3
Select the Load task. In the Task Parameters area, choose one of the following ways to load the labware into a different location.
•
Specify a predefined location group to load to. To specify a predefined location group, click the Locations tab and drag the location group to the Assigned locations or groups area.
 
•
Assign specific locations to load to without using a location group, as follows:
Click the Native tab, and drag the selected locations to the Assigned locations or groups area.
 
4
Click Start.
5
In the Number of Cycles dialog box, enter a number that is equal to or less than the number of labware that you want to process from the group.
6
Click OK.
7
To confirm that the labware have been returned to their assigned positions in the inventory:
a
Click the Load task.
b
Click Edit location groups or Edit plate groups.
c
Click the Inventory Management tab.
Related information
 
For information about...
See...
Software inventory
About labware inventory management
Creating a plate group
Creating and managing plate groups
Moving labware in and out of a storage device
•
Adding labware information in the inventory database
•
Removing labware information from the inventory database
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Moving labware between storage devices
Using barcode input files
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Creating a plate group with a barcode input file
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VWorks Automation Control User Guide
Starting a run
VWorks Automation Control User Guide
Load and Unload tasks
VWorks Automation Control User Guide