Laboratory consumables management differs from classic inventory management: here, suitability , not quantity, is paramount. Using an expired reagent invalidates the result.
Scope
Lot-based tracking: Each chemical is recorded with its lot number, manufacturer, certificate, delivery date, opening date, and expiration date.
Post-opening shelf life: Additional monitoring of the shortened validity period of some reagents after opening.
Prepared solutions: Information on the batches from which the solutions were prepared in the laboratory, who prepared them, the date of preparation, and their validity period.
Reference standard management: Tracking the purity value of certified standards, certification files, and remaining quantity.
Usage log: A system that links which reagent and standard lot was used in which analysis to the final result. This allows for identifying affected results later if a lot is found to be problematic.
Stock and order alerts: Creating alerts and purchase requests for materials that are falling to critical levels or nearing their shelf life.
Hazardous materials inventory: An inventory of chemicals in the laboratory, along with their hazard classifications; monitoring of storage inconsistencies and legal threshold values.