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Biosample Workflow Files

The biosample workflow file is a comma-delimited file that is used to add biosamples in bulk. The file includes a list of biosamples with the following information for each:

Custom metadata
Library preparation instructions
Analysis workflows to be launched after sequencing data files have been received

To make sure that run data are associated with the correct biosample information, upload the biosample workflow file before adding the sample sheet.

Biosample Workflow File Format

Biosample workflow fields are grouped into the following types.

Biosample Data—Lists information about the biosample and default project. See Biosample Data Fields.
Prep Request Instructions—Instructions about the library preparation for a new or existing biosample. See Prep Request Fields.
Analysis Workflow—Schedules an analysis workflow for a biosample and lists additional instructions for grouping biosamples and delivering results. See Analysis Workflow Fields.
Biosample Metadata—Adds custom metadata to the biosample. See Metadata Fields.

Biosample Data Fields

The biosample data fields define the biosamples you are adding or updating. A biosample and default project combination can only be listed in one row of the manifest. For information about scheduling more than one analysis for a biosample, see Schedule Multiple Analysis Workflows For a Single Biosample.

Biosample Data Fields

Field

Requirements

Description

Biosample Name

Required
Can include letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores
Can only be listed one time
Not case‑sensitive

The unique identifier for the source DNA.

The default project and biosample metadata cannot be changed.

 

To correctly associate run data with the biosample, the Sample ID and project used in a sample sheet must exactly match the biosample name and default project. Use unique Sample ID and project name combinations in sample sheets to prevent aggregating multiple samples to a single biosample.

Default Project

Required for new biosamples.

The default project in which the biosample analysis data are stored. If the default project does not exist, BaseSpace Sequence Hub creates the project and adds the biosample to it. If you are modifying an existing biosample in the project, this column is ignored.

Container Name

 

This column is optional. It is typically used to define the source DNA plate barcode. If you are modifying an existing biosample, this column is ignored.

Container Position

Required if Container Name is defined.

Container Position is typically used to define the well location of the DNA plate defined in the Container Name column. If you are modifying an existing biosample, this column is ignored.

Analysis Workflow Fields

The analysis workflow fields specify the analysis workflow to launch automatically when sequencing data has been received. For more information, see Analysis Workflows.

For information about scheduling more than one workflow for a biosample, see Schedule Multiple Analysis Workflows For a Single Biosample.
For information about scheduling an analysis workflow for more than one biosample, see Schedule An Analysis Workflow Using Data From Multiple Biosamples.

NOTE

Analysis Workflow fields do not overwrite existing scheduled workflows. If you import the same biosample workflow file twice, you duplicate the analysis requests in the file and the analysis is performed a second time.

Analysis Workflow Fields

Field

Requirements

Description

Analysis Workflow

The user uploading the biosample workflow must have permission to use the analysis workflow.

The name of the Analysis Workflow.

If you are scheduling more than one analysis workflow for a biosample, separate the names of the workflows with a pipe character "|".
If you are scheduling a workflow for an analysis group, enter the workflow name in parentheses.

Analysis Group

Must be unique within the biosample workflow file.

Groups multiple biosamples and applies a single analysis workflow to the biosamples in the group.

Sample Label

Must be unique within the Analysis Group in the biosample workflow file.

Labels the analysis workflow inputs that must be distinguished. For example, the Tumor-Normal Analysis Workflow requires that the Isaac Analysis inputs are labeled as 'Normal' and 'Tumor'. Labels are case-sensitive.

Delivery Mode

Values allowed: 'Deliver' or 'Do Not Deliver'
Must be the same for biosamples within an Analysis Group

Assigns an optional delivery status for an analysis. For example, you can mark R&D or test analyses biosamples as Do Not Deliver.

In the following example, columns E—H specify the following information:

The analysis workflows to perform.
The analysis group and sample labels for a pair of samples analyzed with the Tumor Normal workflow.
Delivery mode.

For more information about scheduling Tumor Normal workflows, see Schedule Multiple Analysis Workflows For a Single Biosample and Schedule An Analysis Workflow Using Data From Multiple Biosamples.

Prep Request Fields

You can use the optional prep request fields to do the following:

Specify prep request instructions for a new biosample
Add a prep request to an existing biosample
Change the required yield for an existing prep request
Prep Request Fields

Field

Requirements

Description

Prep Request

Must match a Prep Request in the system

Specifies which library prep to use.

Required Yield Gbp

Required if Prep Request is entered
Numeric value between 0–1000; use fractions to specify units of Mbp or Kbp)

Enter a value between 0–1000 to specify the sequencing yield (in Gbp) the lab is required to produce before the planned BaseSpace App can be launched.

If the prep request already exists for the biosample, the Required Yield is updated with the new value.

In the following example, columns J—K specify the library prep and required yield.

Metadata Fields

Use metadata fields to add custom information about the biosample. Do not enter patient identifying information in metadata fields.

Biosample metadata is listed on the biosample details page.

NOTE

Metadata can be applied to new biosamples in a biosample workflow file. To add or edit metadata for existing biosamples, use the BaseSpace Sequence Hub API. For more information, see the developer documentation at developer.basespace.illumina.com.

In the following example, columns L—N add genome, tissue source, and customer barcode metadata.

Example Metadata Fields

File Validation

BaseSpace Sequence Hub performs validation on the field requirements and the following general requirements:

Maximum 100 fields
Field headers must be 4–60 characters
No special characters in field headers
Field entries limited to 5000 characters