Reporter operations and troubleshooting#

This page covers day-to-day activities that do not fit into a single lifecycle stage: finding samples, using the dashboard, managing settings, and resolving common problems.

Find samples quickly#

The Management view is the main operational hub. It shows samples grouped by state across four swim lanes:

Lane

What it shows

PENDING

Samples registered but not yet analyzed.

ANALYSIS

Samples with an active or recently completed workflow run.

REVIEW

Samples awaiting result review and curation.

REPORT

Samples with a draft or awaiting sign-off.

To find a sample:

  1. Use the search box at the top of the Management view to search by sample or case ID.

  2. Use the filter button to narrow results by metadata, date, state, or other configured fields.

  3. Scroll within a lane to load or paginate results.

  4. Click a sample to open its action dialog for the current state.

Sample List#

Sample List provides a tabular view of all registered samples. You can:

  • Sort by columns such as ID, date, state, and assay.

  • Apply filters for states, assays, or date ranges.

  • Export or copy sample identifiers, if your role permits.

  • Drill into a sample record for full metadata.

Dashboard#

The Dashboard shows high-level laboratory metrics. Typical metrics include:

  • Counts of samples by state.

  • Recent throughput.

  • Cases requiring attention, such as failed runs or pending sign-offs.

Use the dashboard to identify bottlenecks and prioritize work.

Settings#

The Settings area configures Reporter-specific options, such as report types. Only users with the BioinformaticsScientist or another Reporter administrative role can change settings.

Common settings include:

Setting

Purpose

Report types

Define the report templates available for sign-out.

If a required setting is missing or incorrect, contact your SeqsLab administrator.

Role-aware visibility#

The actions and data you see depend on your assigned role:

  • A ReporterDataEntryOperator typically sees registration-related actions.

  • A MedicalTechnologist sees curation actions in REVIEW.

  • A BioinformaticsScientist sees pipeline and settings actions.

  • A LaboratorySupervisor sees report-creation and approval actions.

  • A MedicalDirector sees sign-off actions in REPORT.

  • OrganizationAdministrator or UserAdministrator may see organization-wide settings and user lists.

If you expect to see an action but do not, verify your role before contacting support.

Practical troubleshooting#

Symptom

Likely cause

Action

A sample does not appear in a lane

Filter is active or role does not permit viewing the case.

Clear filters or ask an administrator to confirm role membership.

Action button is disabled

Required fields are missing, role lacks permission, or the sample is in the wrong state.

Check the state and your role; open the sample details for validation errors.

Dashboard metrics look outdated

Cache or refresh delay.

Refresh the page or check the timestamp shown.

Cannot access Settings

Role lacks administrative permission.

Request the appropriate role from your administrator.

Search returns no results

Wrong ID format or the sample belongs to another organization.

Confirm the identifier and your active organization.

Reporting problems#

When you escalate an issue, include:

  • The sample ID.

  • The current state.

  • The exact action you were trying to perform.

  • Any error message or reference code.

  • The date and time of the attempt.