Sanguin Aurora

Software solutions for the smallest to the largest laboratory

If you require an Aurora Brochure, please visit our downloads page or contact us.

The family of Aurora products comprises Aurora Gold, Aurora Meridian and Aurora Lite. All three of these are still the full and original Sanguin Aurora product with the differences in functionality controlled by the dongle.

Sanguin Aurora allows you to: collate sample data for ALL PRISM assays. Store reagent performance details. collate sample data ACROSS INSTRUMENT TYPES, e.g. Abbott PRISM Plus Olympus PK7200 Plus Ortho Summit Processor Module Plus BioMerieux BacT/iAlert, NAT results etc.

Aurora Gold

The original Sanguin Aurora product. Fully modular allowing configuration according to the laboratory's needs. Additional modules can be added at any time with no change to the software. Using a Microsoft Access or SQL Server database, Sanguin's powerful and successful software package is suitable for high volume data management using extensive laboratory automation.

Aurora Meridian

Still based on the original Sanguin Aurora but with functionality targeted specifically at laboratories with slightly lower volume data management and automation needs. Using a Microsoft Access database Aurora Meridian is suitable for ELISA or Agglutination applications. The full product is still supplied allowing easy upgrade to Sanguin Aurora Gold via a simple dongle update.

Aurora Lite

A highly efficient but low cost software package. Designed for single assay type applications and using a Microsoft Access database, Aurora Lite is suitable for low volume data management interfacing to microplate readers. Again an easy upgrade is available to Sanguin Aurora Meridian or Gold.

Sanguin Aurora - Microplate Management and more...

1. Overview of the Product
2. General Product Specification
3. Assay Details
4. Device Interfaces
5. Result Validation
6. Reporting Functions
7. Security Features
8. Statistics
9. Aurora Modules
10. Aurora Meridian/Lite
11. Aurora v Medusa 2000

Overview of the Product

Sanguin Aurora has been specifically written for Windows 9x/NT 32-bit operating system and uses the latest computer technology, combined with today's laboratory management practices, to produce a fundamental step forward in Microplate software.

Designed by people with extensive laboratory experience in microplate technology, Sanguin Aurora offers a practical approach to both the immediate requirement of producing results from microplate assays, to the more in depth considerations of data storage, validation and export of data.

Sanguin Aurora is the third generation of ELISA Screening and Blood Grouping Data Management Application. The first generation was Medusa released in 1988. The second, Medusa 2000 released in 1992, the key features of which have been retained and improved within Aurora.

Sanguin Aurora is specifically designed for Laboratory Management using a variety of different hardware platforms and technologies. It is capable of operation on either a stand alone PC, "peer to peer" network, or a full server based network with use of industry standard Microsoft Access or SQL Server databases.

The graphical approach is designed to ensure the system is easy for all users to use. Its modular approach ensures that current laboratory requirements can be met with the future protected. The software itself consists of a basic system, attached to which are the application modules. Any combination of modules may be used dependent on the laboratory’s immediate needs. Extra modules can be added at a later stage by a simple "dongle" security key upgrade with no additional installation steps and no compromise of existing results or program function.

Sanguin Aurora received FDA 510(k) clearance from the FDA (Adobe Acrobat Format, download from here) on September 29th 1999 as a Class II device. Aurora is cleared for Qualitative/Quantitative ELISA testing, Haemagglutination, Blood Grouping, Antibody Screening as well as interfacing to Interpretative Laboratory Analysers.

[back to menu]

General Product Specification

• Sanguin Aurora will interface to a variety of different technologies.
• Sanguin Aurora can create plates from a batch, individually or intercept from a Sample Preparation Device.
• Sanguin Aurora will interface with all major Microplate readers and all major Plate Processors.
• Sanguin Aurora will intercept results from different Abbott devices.
• Sanguin Aurora will interface with a range of chemistry analysers to import samples and results.
• Validation of results. This may be as simple as producing a list of all samples requiring re-testing based on the presence of high/low OD values or pipetting errors. Alternatively it may be a complex check for "initial reactive" samples, using a user defined test pattern to determine if the sample is a true "repeat reactive" or a potential false positive. All under the user's own control.
• Export of results can be achieved either directly or indirectly to other computers or instruments.
• Multiple databases can be created, allowing separate environments for routine production work, training, validation of new assays/instruments.
• Archiving facilities exist to allow data to be extracted to a read-only database area for continued on-line retrieval of historical results. The data extraction can be total or on a date range basis, allowing a certain amount of previous data to be kept in the working database.
• Aurora can be translated into any language and the software can be configured to use any of these translations either globally or on an individual user basis.

Many of the functions will take place as multitasking or background events, or can be linked together to form a single task. For example :

• Monitoring for OD's and SPD interfacing can become background events.
• As such information is received the data can be automatically interpreted and results saved to the database.
• Validation can be linked to an assay and performed automatically as each plate is filed.
• User definable reports can be linked to assays to be processed automatically as each plate is filed. [back to menu]

Assay Details

Assay Types:

• Qualitative ELISA - results determined by a single end point cut-off or multiple cut-off criteria.
• Quantitative ELISA - calculation of concentration via standard curve with curve types Straight Line, Spline, Four Parameter Logistics and Point to Point.
• Blood Grouping - allows determination of ABO and Rhesus Grouping, cell types, antibody analysis etc.
• Haemagglutination - screening assays using agglutination technology eg. TPHA.
  · Kinetics - multiple, timed readings allowing a final value to be calculated per well which can be used to determine the results directly or via a cut-off or standard curve.

Increased assay flexibility allows for :

• User definition of Confirmatory/Neutralisation Assays (Qualitative ELISA).
• Multiple Result Text.
• Multiple Definition of control QC/acceptance criteria.
• Controls can be named by the user thus allowing distinction between true Kit Controls, Calibrators and in-house controls.
• Well Fill Verification - allowing monitoring of reagent addition etc.
• Real time trend analysis of control data/performance.
• Multiple Reader Definition allowing for different readers on different workstations within a laboratory without having to change the assay.
• Combinations of fixed position and flexible position barcoded controls.
• Highlighting and tagging of samples with previous results for the assay within the database.
• 'Roll back' facility allowing previous revisions of assays to be stored and recalled.
  

Fig 1	Fig 2.

[back to menu]

Device Interfaces

Microplate Readers:

• Anthos 2001/HTII
• Bio-Rad (LP400)
• Bio-Tek 312/312e/340
• Bio-Tek 800/808
• Dynex MR5000/7000
• Dynex MRX
• Labsystems iEMs
• Organon Teknika Reader 520
• Organon Teknika Reader 530
• Ortho Autoreader II/III
• SLT 340/400 ATC
• SLT Rainbow
• SLT Spectra
• Tecan (Sunrise)

Image Analysis Readers:

• Zenyx Duet
• Immucor I-Star

Sample Preparation Devices:

• Hamilton AT/AT Plus
• Hook & Tucker Zenyx Guardian 640/680 (creating Medusa 2000 pipetting files)
• Hook & Tucker Zenyx Guardian 245/400 (creating Medusa 2000 pipetting files)
• Packard Multiprobe
• Rosys 3000/3300
• Sanguin SPD Files (Medusa 2000 pipetting file and new Windows file format)
• Tecan RSP 8000/Genesis series (creating Medusa 2000 pipetting files)
  [back to menu]

Plate Processors:

• Dynex DIAS
• Hamilton FAME/Texas
• Medusa 2000 OD File
• Organon Teknika / bioMerieux MPP
• Ortho Summit Processor
• Sanguin PPM Files (new Windows file format)

Non-microplate Devices:

• Abbott PPC pre v8.0
• Abbott PPC v8.0+
• Abbott PRISM
• Abbott IMx
• Abbott AxSYM
• Olympus PK7100/7200
• Coulter Counter
• IBG file output
• Hitachi 911
• Sanguin Result file (SRimport.dat)
  [back to menu]

Result Validation

Methods can be defined to validate samples based on:

• Sample verification based on specified optical densities, ratios, concentrations etc. with parameters >, <, =>, <=, <>. If required, a new result can be posted for samples that meet the conditions defined.
• Assay Confirmation to allow results from two different assays to be compared according to a defined look-up table. A new result can be posted for samples that match the look-up table criteria defined and/or for those that don't.
• Pipette Errors - allowing samples with pre-determined pipette errors to be assigned a new result if required.
• Repeat Testing which looks for a pre-defined 'trigger' result such as Reactive. The user can then define the number of repeat tests required, which assays they should come from and the final result based on the sequence of initial and repeat results. Additional steps can be defined for further testing depending on that final result allowing complex decision trees to be built up. The result source can also be selected so results posted by validate can be looked for specifically, including those that may have been generated by one of the other method types above.

All of the above can be defined in combinations/multiple steps within one validate method. Samples can be searched on by Date, Plate or Plates selected for inclusion from a date search. If required samples picked up by any of the validate steps can be assigned restriction tags to prevent their results being exported until a final result is achieved.
Methods can be assigned to be run automatically within an assay upon filing of results or can be run at any time by the user. A log is stored for each validate run and the user can go back and view/print that information at any time. [back to menu]

Reporting Functions

The user can design their own reports for printing or exporting via an ASCII file or serial port.

Printouts can be designed using combinations of fonts/colours, simply placing the text and data commands on the screen in their final position on the page. Images can also be inserted allowing such things as logos to be included.

Data can be filtered by defining IF Statements within the report so that samples are only included if they meet the conditions set, for example to report Reactive samples, all Non-reactive samples etc.

Report types allow data to be extracted based on current sample results, full sample history or original plate results. Searches can then be performed on an individual Sample, Plate, Batch, Date or Date Range.

Pre-defined sorting methods can be selected when running a report that will sort the samples in the required order using specified character positions, for example ascending order on the last 3 digits. The same methods can also be configured to include/exclude samples based on specified characters, for example all samples containing characters CC. This could allow reports to be separated based on centre codes within the numbers.

[back to menu]

Security Features

System security and logging facilities are a key feature of Sanguin Aurora. This allows a total audit/event trail based on information such as :

• Password Control - Sanguin Aurora is controlled by its own user definable password system. Each new user can be assigned their own password and individual "menu by menu" or even "option by option" access rights. This can be extended further to allow/disallow certain key functions on an assay by assay basis.
• Password Expiry/changing passwords. The security system can be configured to prompt/force users to change their passwords on a regular basis. Equally users can change their own password at any time without gaining access to the configuration of their access permissions.
• High level User Activity Log - keeping a detailed record of all transactions within the software that can be recalled via user name, date, database, workstation etc.
• Assay Locking - by individual users or by Distributors to prevent unauthorised editing of specified assays. This feature is also available for user-defined reports and validate methods. [back to menu]

Statistics

An external Statistics module is available that can be run from within Aurora. Data can be extracted from the plate history to look at criteria such us Control means, Cut-offs etc., or from the sample history to look at criteria such as results, ratio's, concentrations etc.
The initial search can be narrowed down if required for specific assay(s), lot number(s), user(s), Date(s) etc. and various combinations. The data extracted from these searches can be exported directly to an Access database or ASCII file for analysis by another package. Or it can be loaded into an Access database for immediate graphical analysis including frequency plots of Pie Charts, Bar graphs, scattergrams and a Levey Jennings trend plot on the selected criteria. Filters can also be used to narrow down the data set further.
The graphs can be printed or exported to an image file. [back to menu]