How to Print Barcodes for Soil Samples

Why barcodes are required

When using Lab-in-A-Box, each soil sample needs a barcode. It is not possible to analyze a sample without it. 

AgroCares installs the printer application before the LIAB is shipped to the client. It is necessary to activate the barcode printing application before you can print. 

The application is accessible from your desktop and should always be activated before you add a barcode to the print queue. 

The application can run in the background while you work with the Portal. It is possible to download the app again, which is explained later in this article.

We advise to print at least 3 barcodes per order. One barcode is placed on the original sample bag, and the other two barcodes are kept with the sub-sample during processing. Second barcode should be placed on the small sample tube that is used for the original analysis. The last barcode is placed on the pot that contains the remaining processed sample as a spare. 

Example placement:

• original sample bag

• sample tube used for analysis

• container with remaining sample

Printing barcodes after order registration

The option to print the barcode is shown during the order registration. Select the number of requested barcodes and the ‘Add to print queue’ button.

The new barcode will be added to the list of barcodes in the printer application. Check in the app the box of the barcode(s) you want to print and click 'Print Barcode' as shown in the image below.

Printing additional barcodes

You can print extra barcodes via the 'Reports' tab, click on the action tab in the last column and select the 'print barcode' option.

Pre-printing barcodes

Pre-printing barcodes is only needed for users who work with the SoilCares Sample Take app on their phone. Each barcode can only be used once, so first check the last barcode that you registered in the Portal. Barcodes consist out of a predefined set of letters and numbers that need to be maintained, e.g. AAAON01234A17. The first 3 letters (AAA) are the spectrometer code of your lab, letter 4 and 5 are related to your Portal account. These letters should not be changed. The numbers 01234 are counting the number of barcodes that are registered that year. The next barcode in line should be 01235. The letter A is used to define the sample type. All soil samples have the letter A on this location. All feed samples have the letter B on this location. The number 17 defines the year, 2017 in this case. At the start of the new year, the registration also starts anew. The first barcode to be pre-printed in 2018 in this example is AAAON00001A18. Registered barcodes from a previous year can still be finished when the new year starts. 
 

Let's say the last registered order is AAAON01234A17 and the user needs a 100 pre-printed barcodes. In that case the information in the Barcode printer app should look as shown in the image below.

Barcode printer application

The barcode printer app needs to be installed on your computer before you can print. AgroCares does this for you before the lab is shipped to you. If you replace your computer or connect an extra computer to your lab then you need to have it installed again. Contact support@agrocares.com for barcode printer application installation.