The Sample Management SIG for 2014 will focus on (3) group discussions. These discussion topics were chosen based on the feedback from our SLAS2013 SIG. Each discussion topic will be an open forum to allow participants to contribute their ideas and personal insights. See the slides for more.

1. SLAS2014
Sample Management
Special Interest Group

2. Repair and Maintenance
 Service contracts. Are there creative models that would benefit and
minimize risk for both (vendor and customer) ? What are people doing?
 Buying a backup unit vs. service contract (Paul’s example)
 The complexity and robustness of the equipment
 How much use will it get? Usually covering critical equipment (workhorse)
 Downtime:
 What is acceptable?
 Back up machines available?
 Service contract = faster turnaround on service?
 Does Gain exceed Pain? Service contract should bring more value than
paying out of pocket
 Tangible: Cost of travel, labor and parts
 Intangible: downtime, service priority, relationship with vendor
 Maintenance Best practices:
 PM vs. in-house service
 Ties in with complexity and usage of unit.

3. Sample Storage
 Storage Hardware options available. Less players out there (TTP, Brooks,
Hamilton)
 Manual vs. automated compare and contrast. Processing and efficiency
 Sample types (DMSO solutions, solids, biological samples, etc)
 Storage conditions
 Hydration? Freeze thaws cycles? Solubility?
 Any new literature examples (Water content was indicated as most detrimental with
past papers)
 How cold is cold enough?
 Substandard Sample removal
 Precipitate detection
 QC based? How often is library checked?
 Single use vs. multiple use?
 Integrated with sample transfer discussion: next slide

4. Sample Handling
 Moving containers vs. moving contents
 Single use vs. multi-use tubes/vials
 Handoff of tubes/vials vs. assay ready plates
 Dilutions within CM/SM or within end user groups
 Liquid handling
 Non-contact or contact, room for all?
 Use within ADME/MAP
 Powder handling manual and automated solutions
 Sufficient material for automated transfers?
 New Technology?
 Powder as “gold” standard vs. 10mM (other??) stock concentrations.
 Closed loop and Parallel processing set-ups (Jose’s example)
 Sample Tracking. Chain of custody, usage and inventory