Did you know that the 3M Plate Reader results can be imported directly into QA Studio in seconds!

Initial Set Up of Network Drive and Sharing the File: The directory on the PC that contains the 3M Plate Reader database needs to be set up to share the directory with the PC work station computer used for QA Studio. The 3M Plate Reader PC needs to be set up to the company network. The QA Studio work station will need to be mapped to see the drive that contains the 3M Plate Reader database.

Set Up of the ODBC Connection in the QA Studio Workstation Computer: Start > Control Panel> Administrative Tools> Data Source (ODBC) > SYSTEM DSN > Add> Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)> Finish > Data source Name: PLATEREADER.

Highlight PLATEREADER > Configure > Select > Find the 3M Sample.mdb file > OK.

Once this initial set up is complete, QA Studio will be directed to the 3M database. To confirm the connection accesses properly; Open QA Studio > Raw Main Menu > Import > 3M Plate Reader > TEST CONNECTION. This only needs to be completed one time.

Routine Importing of 3M Plate Reader Results: Once you have completed counting the Petrifilm on the 3M Plate Reader; Open QA Studio > Raw Main Menu > Import > 3M Plate Reader> Enter the date information for the results you wish to import > Load Plate Samples > Trim List > Import Plate Reader Results.

There is an Import Status column on the right hand side of the Import window with details on the import. If there was a result already in QA Studio for a sample, the import process will not override the result and will state " Existing Value Unchanged." If QA Studio can not locate a sample, the comment "No Matching Sample" will appear in the column. Otherwise results are imported.

Just as in the other QA Studio imports; it is necessary for the QA Studio assigned identification number (e.g., R1, R2, R3...) to be added to the 3M Plate Reader when counting plates, this ensures that the right result follows the right sample.