Systems and methods for designing, developing, and sharing assays

Abstract

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for designing assays. A database stores a set of user-selectable element data objects, a set of user-selectable operation data objects, and a set of validation rules for the one or more assays that can be used to determine whether an assay is valid. Data is received that is indicative of selecting, for a candidate assay specification, a first set of element data objects and a first set of operation data objects. The candidate assay specification is generated based on the received data. The candidate assay specification is validated. An assay data file is generated for the candidate assay specification that includes the first set of element data objects and the first set of operation data objects, such that the assay data file can be shared among a set of users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method for electronically defining and validating an assay so the assay can be easily shared among a set of users, the method comprising:
 storing, by a computing device, in a database:
 a set of user-selectable element data objects, each element data object defining a physical component that can be used in one or more assays; 
 a set of user-selectable operation data objects, each operation data object defining an action that can be performed for one or more element data objects from the set of element data objects for the one or more assays; and 
 a set of validation rules for the one or more assays that can be used to determine, for each assay of the one or more assays, whether an associated set of element data objects from the set of element data objects and an associated set of operation data objects from the set of operation data objects define a valid assay; 
   receiving, by the computing device, data indicative of selecting, for a candidate assay specification:
 a first set of element data objects from the set of element data objects; and 
 a first set of operation data objects from the set of operation data objects, each operation data object from the first set of operation data objects defining an action to perform on one or more of the element data objects from the first set of element data objects; 
   generating, by the computing device, the candidate assay specification based on the received data, the candidate assay specification comprising the first set of element data objects and the first set of operation data objects;   validating, by the computing device, the first set of element data objects and the first set of operation data objects for the candidate assay specification to determine the candidate assay specification is valid; and   generating, by the computing device, an assay data file for the candidate assay specification that includes the first set of element data objects and the first set of operation data objects, such that the assay data file can be shared among a set of users.   
     
     
         2 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating step-by-step execution instructions for the candidate assay specification, each step listing one or more physical components from the first set of element data objects, and one or more actions, from the set of operation data objects, to perform on the one or more physical components;   displaying a first step from the step-by-step execution instructions;   receiving data indicative of a completion of the first step; and   recording a completion timestamp of the first step.   
     
     
         3 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the assay data file comprises:
 receiving data indicative of a request to share only a subset of the candidate assay specification; and   generating an abbreviated assay data file that includes:
 a subset of element data objects from the first set of element data objects, the subset of element data objects being associated with the subset of the candidate assay specification; and 
 a subset of operation data objects from the first set of operation data objects, the subset of operation data objects being associated with the subset of the candidate assay specification. 
   
     
     
         4 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the assay data file comprises:
 receiving data indicative of a request to share the assay data file based on one or more user profile attributes;   generating a collaboration group based on the one or more user profile attributes;   sharing the assay data file with the collaboration group; and   storing a number of views of the assay data file by one or more group members in the collaboration group.   
     
     
         5 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving data indicative of a request to purchase a physical component defined by an element data object, wherein the element data object includes data indicative of a vendor of the physical component; and   transmitting an order request to the vendor for the physical component.   
     
     
         6 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the candidate assay specification comprises converting a graphical representation of the selected first set of element data object and the first set of operation data objects to a text-based assay data file. 
     
     
         7 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving data indicative of a request to load a second assay data file; and   generating a graphical representation of the second assay data file.