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Blog #3: Biotechnology Productivity in Action - Testing Two Digital Tools to Optimize Lab Planning 🧪

  • Writer: Melissa B
    Melissa B
  • Apr 23
  • 2 min read

Introduction


  • Purpose: Explore how biotechnology-specific productivity tools streamline repetitive or complex lab preparation and data analysis tasks.


  • Example Task: Organizing a week's worth of biotechnology lab activities, including reagent prep, protocol standardization, and data entry.


  • Selected Tools:

    • LabArchives – An electronic lab notebook system (LabArchives, 2025).

    • Quartzy – A lab inventory and order management tool (Quartzy, 2025).


Task Goals & Challenges


  • Goals:

    • Ensure consistency in lab prep and experimental planning.

    • Reduce time wasted on manual inventory and reagent tracking (Chen et al., 2024).


  • Challenges:

    • Disorganized records (Sapriati et al., 2023).

    • Manual data entry and redundant checklist verification.


Metrics & Testing Plan

Metric

Without Tools

With LabArchives

With Quartzy

Time to plan one week’s labs

~3 hours

~1.5 hours

~2 hours

Keystrokes/clicks

~900

~500

~550

Output quality

Moderate

High

High

Training required

None

1 hr tutorial

30 min video


Performed Task Screenshots


Common Productivity Tools - Microsoft Word & Excel


Lab Protocol (Word/Text)

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Lab Inventory Spreadsheet (Excel)

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Biotechnology Productivity Tools - LabArchives


Protocol Entry Page


In LabArchives, protocols are typically entered using the Rich Text Editor (RTE). This editor allows users to format text, insert tables, images, and links, providing a comprehensive way to document experimental procedures (LabArchives, 2025).


Example 1

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Example 2

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Reagent Table


LabArchives offers widgets like the Chemical Sketcher, which includes a stoichiometry table feature. This allows users to input reactants and products, automatically calculating molecular weights and balancing equations (LabArchives, 2025).

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Sharing Interface/Student Comments Section


LabArchives provides robust sharing capabilities. Users can share entire notebooks, folders, or individual entries with collaborators by assigning specific permissions (view or edit). Additionally, the platform supports commenting on entries, facilitating communication among team members (LabArchives, 2025).

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Biotechnology Productivity Tools - Quartzy


Inventory Dashboard with Low-Stock Alerts


List and manage the item name, category, location within the lab, amount available, amount in stock with low-stock appearing in red font (see below) (Quartzy, 2025).

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Supply Request/Order Form


Example 1

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Example 2

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Tool Analysis


  • LabArchives Pros:

    • Cloud-based, real-time collaboration

    • Template-driven lab notebooks

    • Version control


  • LabArchives Cons:

    • Learning curve for first-time users

    • Limited free storage


  • Quartzy Pros:

    • Inventory automation

    • Integrates with vendors for one-click ordering

    • Notifications for low stock


  • Quartzy Cons:

    • Primarily inventory-focused, less suited for protocol documentation


  • Tools are most effective when customizable, collaborative, and user-friendly (Chen et al., 2024).

  • Time savings and record accuracy are the top reported benefits (Sapriati et al., 2023).


Recommendation & Conclusion


  • Recommendation: LabArchives is more versatile for academic lab prep and collaborative protocol tracking.


  • Conclusion: While both LabArchives and Quartzy offer unique value, LabArchives better supports comprehensive biotechnology workflows and student learning outcomes in a higher education context.





References


Chen, S. H., Garcia, C. B., Lazear, E., Lentz, T. B., Robertson, S. D., Li, Z., & Goller, C. C.

(2024). Implementation of electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) in science laboratory

classes: Student response and lessons learned. Discover Education, 3(70).


LabArchives. (2025). Electronic laboratory notebooks for research and education.


Sapriati, A., Suhandoko, A. D. J., Yundayani, A., Karim, R. A., Kusmawan, U., Mohd Adnan,

A. H., & Suhandoko, A. A. (2023). The effect of virtual laboratories on improving

students’ self-regulated learning: An umbrella systematic review. Education Sciences,


Quartzy. (2025). The world’s leading lab management platform. https://www.quartzy.com/



Have you used either of these tools?

  • YES

  • NO

  • Kinda?


Would you use either of these tools after reading about them on this site?

  • YES

  • NO

  • Yes, but I need to do more research...


 
 
 

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