Ziath Launches Two Major Product Updates at European Biobank Week 2016

Ziath has announced that it will be a silver sponsor of this year’s European Biobank Week (EBW16) in Vienna, Austria, and will be launching major updates to its sample tracking software ‘Samples’. The updates will allow for the improved importing of large legacy data files, the enhancement of the audit trail for individual samples, and improvements to the search facility for sample retrieval. In addition, Ziath will launch improvements to their Handheld tube 2D reader, enabling it to scan and process 1D barcodes, and notify the user if a tube has not been found or failed to scan.

An efficient sample management system is critical for maintaining the integrity of a laboratory’s precious biological materials. This means systems that allow for the proper classification of a particular sample by location, as well as storing all necessary information such as tube contents, date of entry, and even the last user to handle the sample, are vital in a busy and dynamic modern laboratory where users are used to working with high volumes of samples, every day.

Due to the number of laboratories that have large repositories of legacy samples already in place, Ziath’s Samples software now has an improved function for the importing of large amounts of legacy data, which can then be searched for and retrieved in the database, even if the samples do not have barcodes. This means that samples that are already in storage can be incorporated into newly implemented databases. In addition, Samples now has an improved audit trail for individual tubes, which means users can more easily obtain information that relates to single sample tubes, including their location, and the user that handled them last. This allows all users of the software to accurately keep tabs on who has been using particular samples and in what time frame.

“We understand that the best way for us to develop the very best tools for our customers is to listen to ways in which they would like them to evolve, so they can be as useful to them as possible” said David Anstee, Commercial Director at Ziath. “This means we are constantly looking to improve Samples, and can even work directly with customers to develop features that will benefit them specifically. A number of our customers cited that they would like to use Samples to keep track of reagents and their stock levels, which means we have now developed features to help with this application. We look forward to meeting the delegates of EBW16 and showcasing our tools, as well as learning ways in which we can help ease day-to-day laboratory operations”.

In addition to changes made to Samples, Ziath are launching updates to their popular Handheld tube reader, a truly portable scanner that can be held and fully operated in one hand, leaving the other free for tube handling. Due to the popularity of the Handheld tube reader among laboratory scientists, Ziath have updated the system to allow for 1D tube scanning, to enable laboratories that have legacy samples to make full use of its benefits by simply adding a 1D barcode to tubes.

Ziath will be at booth 51 at the EBW16 conference, and will be showcasing a number of their technologies to delegates, which will include the new extended range for the TraceTraq 2D coded tubes. The new range incorporates 0.3ml, 0.5ml, and 1.0ml tubes with external threaded lids for users who prefer this option, and customers can now choose between tubes with slide-lock or push-lock lids. This means researchers are given the ability to define the exact tube that they require for their particular application; Ziath tubes can vary in volume, cap type and color (for identification purposes), tube rack lid type, and whether the tubes come pre-sterilized. This level of customization means users can obtain the tube that their research requires.