Creating a Test Code from Scratch

It is often easier to create a new test by copying a similar, existing test.

See: Copying a Test Code for information about creating a test by copying an existing one.

To create a new test from scratch, complete the following steps:

1. Select Administration > Rules Engine The graphical CLS interface for configuring the LIMS, specifically the Control Tables. from CLS main menu.
2. Click Tests on the left side of the page.
3. Click Add in the grid header.
4. In the New Test pop-up, enter a unique Test code and Test name to identify the test on the General tab.
5. On the Test Details tab, choose the matrices to which the test applies.

   Note: Leave the Matrices field blank if the test applies to all matrices.

6. Click Save.

7. On the Login The initial step in the life of a sample where the following information is recorded in the CLS database: sample identification, customer information, incoming containers, analysis codes, and turnaround time. Login specifically indicates that the sample has physically arrived at the laboratory and testing can begin (or the sample is to be cancelled because of a bad condition or other discrepancy). tab, click Billing Info. From the Billing Information pop-up, add the test to at least one Price list.

8. Click Done to close the Billing Information pop-up.

9. Review the other default information on the General and Login tabs, making changes as needed. Click Done.
10. The new test will appear in the Tests grid on the left side of the page with the Uninstalled quick filter button selected and will have no tasks attached to it. Select the row containing the test and make sure the Builder tab is selected on the right side of the page.
11. Right-click the test box and select New Task from the pop-up menu.

12. In the New Task pop-up, enter a unique Task number (start with 1).

    • Choose the Department responsible for the task and the Turnaround code that will determine the task due date. If the step uses the same procedure as another test, select it from the Procedure drop-down list.

    • Otherwise, click create New to the right of the field.

    If the test is a single-step analysis, the procedure 'Kind' must be set to "Prep & Anly".
13. In the New Procedure pop-up, enter a unique code and name for the procedure on the General tab. Make a selection from the Method The official method, such as an EPA or SW-846 method. "Method" is an attribute of the CLS procedure code. In other words, the procedure code is more granular than the method but links to one method except for Industrial Hygiene tests. With Industrial Hygiene, the NIOSH or OSHA methods are typically analyte-specific even if the results are yielded by a single instrumentation procedure. drop-down list.

14. Click the Task tab.

    Some fields default to common values. Edit that information if necessary.

15. Select a Condition code group from the drop-down list.

16. Select the Adjustments tab.

    Some fields default to common values. Select new options from the drop-down lists as necessary.
    For example: if this test involves soil matrices, you would set these fields to manipulate results based on your instrument settings.

17. Click Done.

18. Click Save on the New Task pop-up.

    In the Builder view on the Tests grid page, the new tasks appears.

19. Click the double arrow in the top right corner of the Task card to view the Procedure card.

20. Right-click the Procedure card and select New Batch Rule A definition of a type of batch, specific to a queue and almost always specific to a procedure. The batch rule indicates the max batch size and the specific review that will be scheduled to release results, and it links to the batch template..
21. In the New Batch A set of samples processed together, often associated with specific quality control (QC) samples that were introduced when the batch was created. Rule pop-up, enter a unique code and name on the General tab.

22. Click the Creation tab.

    • Select the Schedule A unit of work (or procedure) scheduled on a sample as a consequence of one step of the analysis code. When a sample is logged in, each acode is scheduled by CLS and these units of work (called "schedules"), are created. Schedules may be analytical or administrative and typically mimic processing steps, such as sample prep and analysis. CLS creates its own schedules during the processing of samples and then acts on them, such as for compiling the list of reportable results (the *QPD queue and schedule) and reporting the sample (*REP). Acodes can cause schedules to be created on workorders and batches as well. a batch review check box, click the Review test drop-down list, and choose the batch test code that describes the required review steps for the procedure.

    • Review the other settings on the Creation and Posting tabs, making adjustments as needed.

23. Click the Templates tab.

    • Click Add in the Templates grid header.

    • Enter information for each QC sample required by the test. If spiking is required for QC calculations, enter this information on the Spike The addition of a solution of known concentration to a sample or quality control (QC) sample for the purposes of measuring percent recovery. Amounts tab.

    • Click Done.

24. If you attached an analyte list to your task, confirm that the list contains the correct analytes. Otherwise, next create a new analyte list. Double-click the Task card in the Builder view and click create new to the right of the Analyte List The list of compounds or parameters whose qualitative or quantitative results are to be yielded by a procedure. Also sometimes called a compound list or "cmplist". There are four types of analyte lists: Fixed, Variable, Dynamic, and Custom. A Fixed list is the defined list associated with the analysis code. The analytes and properties of a fixed list cannot be edited within the context of a sample. The list has to be turned into "Variable" for such editing. A Variable list is maintained at the schedule level and is fully customizable before posting. It is often a fixed list that is copied into the sample information during the scheduling of an analysis code, created through "coalescing", or created explicitly through editing of sample information. A Dynamic list is a variable list that will be (or has been) trimmed down automatically during posting to contain only the analytes above the detection limit. Dynamic lists pave the way for reporting only the analytes found, such as a list of tentatively identified compounds. A Custom list is one that has been tailored at the client profile line item level and associated with an acode so that samples later logged in against this profile inherit the tailored list of analytes and properties. drop-down list on the General tab of the task detail pop-up.
25. On the analyte list detail pop-up, enter a unique code and name for the analyte list.

26. In the Analytes grid:

    • Click Add.

    • Choose the analyte for the test.

    • Enter a unique Sort item to determine the order of the analytes during results entry. Use the create new link if the analyte is not in the drop-down list.

    • Review the information on the Posting, Calculations, and Reporting tabs and edit the appropriate settings as needed.

27. Repeat step 24 for each analyte for the test. Click Done, then click Save on the task detail pop-up.

28. Repeat steps 10-25 for each step of the test.

    You have completed the creation of your test.
29. Click the Verify tab on the Tests grid page. If the test contains no errors, select the test and click Check In in the grid header. If there are errors, you must correct them before you can check in the test.