Workflows

Qvios is built around the concept of workflows. A typical workflow can represent a single assay or a laboratory test. A workflow is a series of nodes connected by shared labware.

Types of Nodes

Samples: These are nodes that contain one or more labware. These labware items are treated differently from others because they are considered to contain samples, and their contents are tracked throughout the workflow. Sample nodes do not contain any processing steps.

Procedures: Procedures include labware and a series of steps applied to one or more labware objects in a given order. The bulk of the workflow is usually made up of procedures, as these are the only nodes that contain processing steps.

We recommend splitting workflows into procedures that resemble real-world lab actions. That way, each procedure remains reasonably sized, and the entire workflow is easier to visualize at a glance. For example, cell seeding can be one procedure in a longer cell-based assay. Procedures are reusable across workflows, so the same seeding procedure can be repurposed in another workflow that requires cell culture. The maximum number of steps in a single procedure is 40.

Measurements: Measurement nodes generate data. These can resample a plate reading or run samples through a chromatography system. Measurements are the only way to upload results to the workflow. Each labware item added to the measurement node can have result data attached. Measurement nodes do not have steps, but a device category can be selected, and measurement parameters can be listed for the measurement. These parameters can contain flow settings for chromatography, image acquisition settings for microscopy, or a thermal profile for a qPCR device.

Connecting Nodes

Nodes are connected via labware. A sample tube from a sample node can be brought to a procedure for processing. After the procedure, the same sample can move to another procedure or measurement node. These node connections naturally define the order in wich node is executed.

From Design to Execution

Workflow designs are referred to as protocols in Qvios. Protocols define the intent and are managed with the design view. A protocol is a template for an executable experiment that matches reality. Each time a new experiment is run, the protocol content is copied into it, then adjusted based on execution parameters, such as sample data and step variables. Ongoing experiments are listed in the experiment view, while finished experiments can be inspected in the discovery view.