Remote Sampler

Remote Sampler is a ruggedized mobile data collection solution developed by CSols, designed specifically for water and environmental laboratories. It addresses the critical and labour-intensive process of field sample collection by replacing paper-based workflows with a fully digital, configurable system that supports regulatory compliance and integrates with laboratory systems such as LIMS.

The solution is aimed at organisations that need to reduce collection costs, maintain a paperless chain of custody, meet regulatory requirements such as those set by the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), MCerts, UKAS, and the Food Standards Agency, and make full use of automated laboratory infrastructure already in place.

Core System Design

• Field technicians use mobile devices to receive and complete sampling jobs that are scheduled and managed from a central hub application.
• A centrally located scheduler uses the hub to extract sample, bottle, and test information from LIMS and flexibly assign jobs to different devices and users within the sampling team.
• The system supports a team-based workflow, enabling coordinated management of multiple field operatives from a single control point.

Bottle Collection and GPS Tracking

• Ensures the unique identifier on each container — whether bottle, tube, or plate — is correctly matched to the corresponding sample.
• Uses the device's built-in barcode reader to confirm sample collection at the point of capture.
• Leverages the GPS capabilities of the mobile device to record the exact geographic coordinates of each sampling event.
• Captures the time and position of sampling to support accurate and verifiable records.

On-Site Testing and Guided Workflows

• Allows users to record data and carry out tests while in the field.
• Prompts and guides the sampler step by step through the process to ensure all required information is captured correctly.
• User input can be validated against pre-configured limits to prevent erroneous data entry.
• Supports a variety of conditional logic configurations to build comprehensive and fully featured on-site workflows.

Audit Trail and Chain of Custody

• A detailed audit trail is built into Remote Sampler to ensure every sample has a full chain of custody from collection through to the laboratory.
• The audit data is objective and provides an independent record of sampling events.
• Audit records can be provided to regulators during any sample audit, supporting compliance with applicable standards.

Handheld Device Criteria

• Ruggedized construction for use in harsh environments and demanding handling conditions.
• Large screen for easy operation with menus and wizards, usable with both finger and stylus or pointer.
• Support for GPRS, mobile broadband, and Bluetooth connectivity.
• Incorporates barcode or RFID label reading capabilities.
• Runs a common operating system to ensure portability as new hardware becomes available.

Proven Benefits

• Significant time savings during the processing of schedules and reception of samples.
• Flexibility to handle emergency samples and changes to collection runs.
• Elimination of all paper transcription errors.
• Improvements in sample integrity and accuracy of data collection.
• Rock-solid compliance supported by a full location audit trail.

Remote Sampler is a powerful and flexible system validated through real-world projects in the water industry. It integrates with LIMS and is available as a mobile application running on smartphones and ruggedized handheld computers. Further information, technical articles, and video demonstrations are available via CSols directly.