Inventory

The Inventory Management System in Galago provides comprehensive tracking and control of laboratory assets, including plates, reagents, and storage locations (nests). It offers real-time monitoring and management of laboratory resources across different workcells.

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Main Features
   1. Dashboard Overview
   2. Core Components
   3. Inventory Operations
3. Using the Inventory System
   1. Managing Plates
   2. Managing Reagents
   3. Managing Nests
4. Inventory Search and Filtering
5. Best Practices
6. Troubleshooting
7. Viewing Plates in Nests
8. Reagent Creation

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Overview

Main Features

Dashboard Overview

Statistics Panel

• Total Plates Count
• Total Reagents Count
• Total Nests Available
• Occupied Nests Count
• Workcell-specific Inventory

Core Components

Plates Management

Track plates with barcode integration, status monitoring, type classification, and location tracking.

Reagent Management

Monitor reagents with volume tracking, expiration dates, and well association.

Nest Management

Create and manage nests with occupancy tracking, tool association, and grid positioning.

Inventory Operations

Check-In Process

Single Plate Check-In

• Barcode scanning/entry
• Nest selection
• Plate type specification
• Status assignment

Bulk Check-In

• Multiple plate processing
• File upload support
• Batch barcode generation
• Automated nest assignment

Check-Out Process

• Plate retrieval
• Location updating
• Status tracking
• History logging

Using the Inventory System

Managing Plates

Adding New Plates

1

Open Check-In Modal

2

Enter plate details:

• Name
• Barcode
• Plate type
• Initial status

3

Select destination nest

4

Optional: Trigger tool command

Tracking Plates

• View current location
• Monitor status
• Track movement history
• View associated reagents

Managing Reagents

Adding Reagents

1

Select plate/well

2

Enter reagent details:

• Name
• Volume
• Concentration
• Expiration date

3

Save reagent information

Monitoring Reagents

• Track volumes
• Check expiration dates
• View usage history
• Monitor conditions

Managing Nests

Creating Nests

1

Select tool

2

Specify:

• Nest name
• Row position
• Column position

3

Configure nest properties

Nest Operations

• Monitor occupancy
• View plate assignments
• Track availability
• Manage maintenance

Inventory Search and Filtering

Search Capabilities

Plate search by:

• Name
• Barcode
• Type
• Status

Reagent search by:

• Name
• Properties
• Location

Nest search by:

• Location
• Availability
• Tool association

Filtering Options

• By workcell
• By tool
• By status
• By date range

Best Practices

Plate Management

• Use consistent naming conventions
• Regularly verify barcodes
• Update status promptly
• Document movements

Reagent Tracking

• Monitor expiration dates
• Update volumes regularly
• Document usage
• Track conditions

Nest Organization

• Maintain clear labeling
• Regular availability updates
• Optimize space usage
• Plan maintenance

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Issue Type	Common Problems	Solutions
Check-In Problems	Barcode conflicts Nest availability Tool communication	Verify barcode uniqueness Check nest availability Confirm tool status
Check-Out Issues	Location mismatches Status updates Tool response	Confirm plate location Update status manually Check tool connectivity
System Synchronization	Data consistency Real-time updates Tool integration	Refresh data Verify connections Check tool status

Viewing Plates in Nests

Clicking into an instrument on the inventory page opens up a modal of nests. Nests can store plates and by clicking on the checkbox next to a plate, you can access the plate wells and modify the reagents within each well.

Upon plate creation, a barcode is generated. A barcode printer can be connected to print out these labels to keep track of well plates.

Reagent Creation

Reagent Properties

Reagents can have the following properties:

• Name
• Expiration date
• Volume
• Location (stored as a well ID)

These specifications can be entered using the buttons provided.

Warning: Always verify that physical plate locations match the system records before starting automated protocols that interact with plates.