Lab workflows
Batch Tracker
The Batch Tracker is a production-focused view of your explant records. It brings key tracking details — including batch identifiers, vessel counts, culture stages, media, and subculture timing — into one place so you can review cultures across your lab more efficiently.
What is a batch?
In xPlant, the Batch Tracker uses explant records to organize groups of culture material being tracked through your workflow. Each record can carry production context such as its source plant, batch code, vessel count, culture stage, media, operator, and subculture history.
Because the Batch Tracker is built around your explant records, updates such as transfers, stage changes, linked media recipes, and contamination records remain connected to the same culture history. The Batch Tracker gives you a production-focused way to review that information across many cultures at once.
What the columns mean
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Plant Code | The source Plant code associated with the Explant when available |
| Batch | The source batch code or batch number used for the culture record |
| Plant Name | The linked source Plant name when available |
| Stage | The current Explant Stage |
| Room | The room associated with the current Stage |
| Gen | The recorded transfer cycle or generation |
| Media | Linked Media Recipe context for the Explant |
| 1st Cultured | The recorded first-cultured date for the Explant |
| Subcultured | The stored subculture date used for production tracking |
| Cultured By | The recorded operator |
| Count | The current culture count |
| Vessels | The vessel count recorded on the current Stage |
| Plantlets | The plantlet estimate recorded on the current Stage |
| Status | The current Explant status |
| Photos | Attached photo or media count |
| Filmed | Whether the Explant is marked as filmed for content |
| Notes | Notes stored on the Explant |
| Created | The date the Explant record was created |
Team-defined Explant custom fields can also appear as optional Batch Tracker columns.
How cultures appear in the Batch Tracker
Culture records can enter the Batch Tracker in several ways, depending on your workflow:
Create an explant directly
Create an explant and record the relevant production details, such as its source plant, stage, batch code, vessel count, and operator. The record can then be reviewed from the Batch Tracker alongside your other cultures.
Import from a spreadsheet
Import existing culture records from a spreadsheet and map your columns to the corresponding xPlant fields. This is useful when moving an existing tracking workflow into xPlant.
Record cultures created during a transfer
When a transfer or subculture produces new culture records, use the transfer workflow to preserve their relationship to the source explant. The resulting records can then be tracked independently in the Batch Tracker.
Associating a media recipe
The Batch Tracker can show media associated with an explant record. To link a media recipe:
- 1Open the explant record from the Batch Tracker.
- 2Go to the Recipes & SOPs tab on the explant detail page.
- 3Click Link media recipe and search for the recipe by name.
- 4Save the change. The linked media can then be referenced from the Batch Tracker.
Note: If an Explant has more than one Media Recipe linked, the Batch Tracker shows the first recipe and a +N count for additional linked recipes. Open the Explant record to review the full recipe context.
Subculture date — how it works
How is the Subcultured date set?
The Subcultured date is stored on the Explant record and can be edited directly in the Batch Tracker. Use the date that best represents the latest subculture for your production workflow.
What if I subcultured and also want the handling event in culture history?
Set the Subcultured date for the production view and record a Transfer separately when you want the culture-handling event, locations, Media Recipe, split lineage, or notes preserved in Transfer history.
Can I set the Subcultured date manually?
Yes. The Subcultured cell is editable directly in the Batch Tracker.
Batch Tracker vs Explants view
| Batch Tracker | Explants view |
|---|---|
| Production-focused view of key culture details | Provides broader access to explant details and history |
| Makes subculture timing easier to review across cultures | Supports detailed browsing and filtering of explant records |
| Surfaces production identifiers such as plant and batch codes | Surfaces explant-specific identifiers and record details |
| Uses explant records as the basis for production tracking | Use when you need to review or manage individual explant records |
Use the Batch Tracker when you want a production-focused overview across cultures, and the Explants view when you need to work with individual explant records and their broader history.