Formulation
Prepare formulations based on known materials and automatically calculate target amounts for laboratory reagent mixtures
Specs
Version
0.1.0 (updated on 2026-03-13)
Developer
Labii Inc.
Type
Section
Support Configuration
Yes
Overview
The Formulation widget streamlines the preparation of laboratory reagent mixtures by enabling researchers to define source materials, specify amounts, and automatically calculate target quantities based on configurable ratios. It's particularly useful for preparing PCR reactions, buffer solutions, growth media, and other formulations where precise reagent ratios are critical. This widget seamlessly integrates with Labii's inventory management system by automatically creating consumption records, ensuring accurate tracking of material usage and stock levels.
Use Cases
PCR Reaction Preparation: Define master mix components with their concentrations and automatically calculate amounts needed for target reaction volumes
Buffer Solution Formulation: Prepare buffer solutions by specifying stock concentrations and calculating the required volumes for desired final concentrations
Growth Media Preparation: Create culture media formulations with multiple components and track reagent consumption for inventory management
Standard Solution Preparation: Formulate standard solutions for analytical procedures with precise concentration calculations
Batch Formulation: Prepare multiple reactions or solutions simultaneously with consistent reagent ratios across all samples
Inventory Integration: Automatically generate consumption records for all source materials used in formulations, maintaining accurate inventory levels
Interface
Read-only View
The read-only view presents formulation data in a clean, tabular format that provides a comprehensive overview of all formulation components. Each row represents a single source material with its associated information.
Key features of the read-only view:
Formulation Table: Displays all added source materials with their configured fields
Base Amount Display: Shows the base amount and unit for each source material
Target Amount Display: Presents calculated target amounts based on formulation settings
Notes Column: Displays any additional notes or comments for each formulation item
Consumption Status: Indicates whether consumption records have been created for each source
The structured table format allows researchers to quickly review all formulation components, verify amounts, and confirm that calculations align with experimental requirements.
Edit View
The edit view provides an interactive interface for building and managing formulations. Users can add new source materials, configure amounts, and generate consumption records with simple button clicks.
Key capabilities of the edit view:
Add Formulation Button: Opens a modal form for adding new source materials to the formulation
Formulation Table: Interactive table showing all formulation components with action buttons
Target Amount Calculation: Automatically calculates and displays target amounts based on configured settings
Individual Consumption: "Add Consumption" button next to each formulation item for creating individual consumption records
Bulk Consumption: "Add Consumption for All" button enables one-click creation of consumption records for all formulation items
Edit/Delete Actions: Modify or remove formulation items as needed
Real-time Calculation: Target amounts update automatically when formulation settings change
The modal form for adding formulations includes fields for source selection, displayed field configuration, base amount specification, unit selection, and notes entry.
Configuration
Initial Setup
Navigate to the Widget Settings by clicking the Edit button
Configure Consumption Settings to link with your inventory management system:
Consumption Table: Select the table where consumption records will be stored
Experiment Column: Choose the column that references the experiment
Source Column: Select the column that stores the source material reference
Amount Column: Choose the column for recording consumed amounts
Unit Column: Select the column for amount units
Configure Formulation Settings to define calculation parameters:
Target Amount: Specify the target amount value for the formulation
Base Amount: Enter the amount value of the source used as the base for calculating target amount
Unit: Select the unit of measurement for the formulation
Click Save to apply the configuration
The widget uses the base amount and target amount ratio to automatically calculate the required amount for each source material in your formulation.
Required Settings
Consumption Settings
Consumption Table: The ForeignKey field pointing to the consumption table where material usage will be tracked. This integration ensures that all formulation activities are reflected in your inventory system.
Experiment Column: Column that links consumption records to the specific experiment or procedure. Essential for maintaining experimental traceability.
Source Column: Column that references the source material being consumed. Connects formulation items to your inventory records.
Amount Column: Column where the consumed amount is recorded. Critical for accurate inventory depletion calculations.
Unit Column: Column for storing the measurement unit. Ensures consistency in amount reporting and inventory tracking.
Formulation Settings
Target Amount: The target amount value for the formulation (e.g., 20 for a 20 µL PCR reaction). This value determines the scale of your formulation.
Base Amount: The amount value of the source used as the base calculation reference. The widget calculates target amounts using the formula: (Target Amount / Base Amount) × Source Base Amount.
Unit: The unit of measurement applied to the formulation (e.g., µL, mL, mg). Must be compatible with your source material units.
Ensure that the consumption table structure includes all required columns before configuring the widget. Missing columns will prevent consumption record creation.
Add Formulation Form
When adding formulation items, the modal form presents these configuration options:
Source: Select the source material or sample from your inventory. This field typically includes an autocomplete search for easy location of materials.
Fields to Display: Choose which fields from the source record should be displayed in the formulation table. This allows you to show relevant information such as concentration, lot number, or expiration date.
Base Amount: Enter the amount value of this source used as the base for calculating the target amount. This represents the reference amount from which target amounts are calculated.
Unit: Specify the unit of measurement for this source material (e.g., µL, mL, µM, mg/mL).
Notes: Add any additional notes or comments about this formulation item, such as handling instructions or special considerations.
Click the Add Formulation button in the widget edit view
In the modal form, search and select your Source material
Choose Fields to Display to show relevant source information in the table
Enter the Base Amount and select the appropriate Unit
Add any relevant Notes for documentation purposes
Click Save to add the formulation item to the table
The widget automatically calculates the target amount based on your formulation settings upon saving.
Advanced Configuration
For complex formulations requiring multiple calculation bases or mixed units:
Configure different base amounts for individual source materials to accommodate varying stock concentrations
Use the Notes field to document calculation rationale or special dilution factors for traceability
Set up multiple formulation widgets within the same section for multi-step preparation procedures
For formulations with multiple stages (e.g., preparing a master mix, then aliquoting), consider using separate formulation widgets for each stage to maintain clear documentation of each step.
Additional Functions
Automatic Target Amount Calculation
Once formulation items are added, the widget automatically calculates target amounts based on your configured formulation settings. The calculation uses the formula:
Target Amount = (Formulation Target Amount ÷ Formulation Base Amount) × Source Base Amount
This ensures consistent scaling across all components in your formulation.
Target amounts update automatically when you modify formulation settings. This allows quick recalculation for different batch sizes without re-entering individual source amounts.
Individual Consumption Creation
For each formulation item in the table, an Add Consumption button enables individual consumption record creation.
Review the calculated target amount for the specific formulation item
Click the Add Consumption button located to the right of the formulation row
The widget creates a consumption record in the configured consumption table with:
Source reference from the formulation item
Experiment reference from the current record
Amount equal to the calculated target amount
Unit from the formulation settings
A confirmation indicator appears showing the consumption record was created successfully
This function is useful when you need to selectively create consumption records, such as when some materials were not actually used or when verifying amounts before committing to inventory depletion.
Bulk Consumption Creation
The Add Consumption for All button streamlines the process of creating consumption records for all formulation items simultaneously.
Review all formulation items and verify that calculated target amounts are correct
Click the Add Consumption for All button in the widget interface
The widget processes all formulation items and creates individual consumption records for each source material
Confirmation messages display showing the number of consumption records created
Verify that all consumption records appear in your consumption table with correct amounts
Using the bulk consumption creation feature ensures consistent timestamp and metadata across all consumption records for a single formulation event, improving audit trail clarity.
Edit and Delete Formulation Items
Modify existing formulation items or remove them as needed:
Edit: Click the edit icon to modify source, base amount, unit, or notes
Delete: Click the delete icon to remove a formulation item from the table
Changes to formulation items automatically recalculate target amounts.
Formulation Pre-planning
The widget serves as an effective planning tool before executing laboratory procedures:
Add all required reagents to the formulation with their base amounts
Adjust the target amount in formulation settings to match your desired batch size
Review calculated target amounts to ensure feasibility with available stock
Print or export the formulation table as a preparation checklist
Execute the formulation following the calculated amounts
Create consumption records after confirming successful preparation
This workflow enables verification of material availability and amount feasibility before beginning actual laboratory work.
Integration with Inventory Management
Consumption records created by the widget automatically integrate with Labii's inventory management system:
Real-time Stock Updates: Consumption records trigger automatic inventory depletion
Batch Tracking: Links consumption to specific source batches for lot traceability
Usage Analytics: Consumption data feeds into usage reports and reorder calculations
Audit Compliance: Creates comprehensive audit trail of material usage for regulatory compliance
Best Practices
Data Organization
Consistent Naming: Use standardized names for formulations to improve searchability across experiments
Detailed Notes: Document any deviations from standard procedures, special handling requirements, or observations in the Notes field
Source Selection: Always select the specific batch or lot of source material rather than generic inventory items for better traceability
Field Display Configuration: Choose to display critical information such as concentration, lot number, and expiration date in the formulation table
Calculation Accuracy
Unit Consistency: Ensure units are consistent between source materials and formulation settings (e.g., if mixing volumes, use µL or mL consistently)
Base Amount Verification: Double-check base amounts before adding formulation items, as these directly impact target amount calculations
Concentration Considerations: When working with stock solutions, use the Notes field to document concentration calculations or dilution factors
Rounding: Be aware of rounding in calculated target amounts; for critical applications, verify calculations before proceeding
For PCR reactions and other high-precision applications, configure formulation settings to calculate amounts with appropriate precision for your pipetting capabilities (e.g., 0.5 µL increments).
Workflow Efficiency
Template Formulations: Create standard formulations for commonly used reagent mixtures and save them as templates for quick reuse
Batch Preparation: Use the bulk consumption feature for routine formulations to minimize data entry time
Sequential Planning: Add all formulation items before creating consumption records to allow final review and adjustments
Multi-stage Procedures: For complex preparations, use multiple formulation widgets to document each stage separately
Inventory Management Integration
Timely Consumption Creation: Create consumption records immediately after using materials to maintain accurate real-time inventory levels
Pre-check Availability: Review formulation requirements against current inventory before beginning preparations to avoid mid-procedure material shortage
Consumption Verification: Periodically audit consumption records against actual material usage to identify discrepancies
Batch Traceability: Always link consumption to specific source batches for complete lot traceability in regulated environments
Compliance and Documentation
Complete Documentation: Fill in all relevant fields including notes to create a comprehensive record for regulatory audits
Review Before Execution: Verify all formulation items and calculated amounts before creating consumption records, as these become part of the permanent audit trail
Electronic Signatures: For GLP/GMP environments, ensure formulation records are reviewed and electronically signed according to your procedures
Archive Standards: Retain formulation records according to your organization's data retention policies and regulatory requirements
Once consumption records are created, they become part of the audit trail and typically cannot be deleted. Ensure accuracy before clicking "Add Consumption" buttons to avoid audit trail complications.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Avoid: Creating consumption records before verifying calculated amounts are correct and feasible
Instead: Always review the formulation table and calculated target amounts before using consumption creation features
Avoid: Mixing incompatible units (e.g., volume for one source and mass for another) without clear documentation
Instead: Maintain unit consistency or document conversion factors clearly in the Notes field
Avoid: Using generic source references that don't specify batch or lot information
Instead: Select specific inventory items with complete batch/lot traceability
Avoid: Forgetting to create consumption records after completing formulations
Instead: Make consumption record creation the final step of your formulation workflow
Performance Optimization
Limit Display Fields: Select only essential fields to display for source materials to improve table loading performance
Batch Size Considerations: For very large formulations (>50 items), consider breaking into multiple smaller formulation widgets
Data Management: Periodically archive old formulation records to maintain optimal widget performance
Related Widgets
Formulate: Alternative option for optimization-based formulations. Choose this widget if you need to optimize ingredient combinations based on constraints and objectives using linear programming algorithms.
Calculation: Simpler option for basic mathematical calculations. Use this widget if you only need to perform calculations without inventory integration.
Integration Scenarios
PCR Workflow: Combine Formulation + Rich Text + Image Gallery for complete PCR reaction documentation
Buffer Preparation: Use Formulation + Table (for buffer recipes) + Inventory Management for standardized buffer preparation and tracking
Media Preparation: Integrate Formulation + Protocol + Consumption tracking for batch media preparation with full traceability
Quality Control: Combine Formulation + Calculation + Results widgets for formulation validation and QC testing documentation
Batch Production: Use multiple Formulation widgets + Inventory Management + Workflow automation for scaled production workflows
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