Numbers, units and identifiers

LabRuns keeps every result exactly as you typed or imported it and reads it as a number when you calculate, using the study's numeric convention. Units and IDs are used just as you write them.

Each study has one numeric convention. Set Numeric convention in Calculation settings on Set up before entering results. A study made from a file takes the file's convention.

The Data stage shows Decimal point or Decimal comma beside the unit.

A value written in the other convention is flagged; correct it, or change the study's convention if the whole file uses the other one.

• Put exactly three digits after each thousands separator, as in 12,345,678 or 12.345.678. In a decimal-point study, 1,2345 is flagged.
• Remove spaces inside numbers. 1 234 is flagged.
• In a comma-delimited CSV, quote values that contain a comma, such as "1,234.5". See CSV and TSV files.

1.2e2, 1.2E2 and 5e-3 are accepted. With a decimal comma, write 2,5E1.

A leading +, - or − is accepted. Negative results are flagged unless you tick Permit negative results in Calculation settings. It is ticked for new detection-limits studies.

These values are flagged:

• an absolute value above 10¹⁰⁰
• a nonzero value too small to calculate with, such as 1e-400
• more than 15 significant digits, such as 10000000000000001. Round it. Numeric workbook cells are exempt.

NaN and inf count as text. Dilution factors run from 1 to 10⁹.

Once a study has rows, saving a new Numeric convention opens Change the number format?, because a value such as 1,234 can change meaning. Choose Change number format, then calculate again.

After a change, the results warn about imported rows that came in under the old convention. Check those rows. Rows typed in the Data stage, including dilution factors and volumes, get no warning, so check them too before calculating.

Each study has one unit, set on Set up, and values are never converted between units.

• A unit in a result heading, such as Result (mmol/L), fills in a new study's unit. Imported into an existing study, it must match that study's unit. Case and spaces don't matter.
• A Unit column is compared with the study's unit the same way, so mg/dl rows import into a mg/dL study. Rows in other units form separate groups. See Files that mix analytes, matrices, instruments or units.
• A limit must use the unit of the statistic it limits: the study unit for concentrations, % for percentages and ratio for a slope. The limit dialogs fill this in for you; a limit in any other unit stays Undecided. See Set acceptance limits.

On Set up, interference studies also take a unit for interferent concentration, and stability studies one for time.

Each study type has one ID column, such as Specimen ID, Material ID, Subject ID or Pool ID. Use coded IDs. Never enter patient names or record numbers.

When you choose a patient-linked column such as Accession as Specimen ID during import, Replace with study codes assigns S001, S002 and so on. The one-time code key download stays with your laboratory. These IDs are already coded keeps IDs that are already de-identified as they are. See Import a file.

• IDs are kept as written, so 00001 stays 00001. Spreadsheets drop leading zeros from numeric cells, so format ID columns as Text.
• Spaces at the start and end are removed.
• s01 and S01 are different specimens.
• IDs hold up to 80 characters.

Rows that share an ID are replicates of one specimen or material. Specimen and subject counts use distinct IDs. For example:

• In reference intervals, each subject has one row per partition. Repeat draws count once.
• In qualitative agreement, a specimen's first included row is its result.
• In a lot comparison, an ID starting with QC marks quality-control material.

These are labels. 1, L1 and Low all work. Spell each one the same way throughout, because Day 1 and 1 are different days.

A blank cell in a used column is flagged where the study needs a value. Level holds up to 80 characters, and day, run and replicate up to 40. Multi-day precision needs Day, Run and Replicate on every row. Linearity groups by expected concentration when the file has no Level column.

Lot, role, storage condition, diluent and exclusion reason are text. Some must match a fixed list or a value set on Set up, such as role blank or low in detection limits. See the column reference. Case doesn't matter for role, category and storage-condition labels. Lot labels must match exactly, including case.