Easy Web Access
Single or multiple user access is available through this browser based application. Install on your desktop for single user or on a shared computer for multiple users (required installation of free server and database software. Additional options include hosted solutions though rayyMedia.
Homepage
Once logged on, the homepage is the initial screen which displays summary information about your inventory including number of animals currently in the system by strain, species, and even room. A reminders section allows you to view animals which have been flagged with reminders for actions due within 48 hours.
Manage Multiple Species
Whether your lab utilizes mice, rats or fish, AIMS can track multiple species in a single database.
Track Multiple Strains
Managing one strain can be complicated enough but trying to manage dozens can become painstaking. With AIMS, your lab can track an unlimited number of strains.
Multiple Views of Inventory
In order to allow users to view animals based on individual needs, five basic views are currently available. With each view, columns displayed can be customized by the administrator. Fields such as age are automatically calculated so you can easily determine how old your animals are at any given time.
List View
Similar to a typical spreadsheet, the list view displays animals in individual rows and access to animal and housing data are available by simply clicking on the animal or housing ID. List view displays all animals that are available for use.
Group View
Group view is synonymous with housing groups such as cages. This view allows you to see all animals grouped together and their location including building and room. Group view displays all animals that are available for use by group.
Mating View
When animals are placed together for mating, they become available in the mating view where they remain until delivery. This view allows you to carefully follow breeding animals.
Delivery View
Once a female as delivered, they become available in delivery view where you can follow them un till the offspring are weened.
Deleted View
When animals are deleted or removed from inventory in AIMS, they are still stored in the database for historical purposes and can be accessed any time from the deleted view link in the list view.
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Search
Searching for animals is easy with a simple to use function that searches through all animals in inventory to find the animal you are looking for.
Clipboard
To assist in performing tasks such as moving, relocating or mating animals, the clipboard allows users to temporarily store animals from different groups until the action is ready to be performed.
Action Buttons
Each view contains buttons and hyperlinks allowing you to perform actions on animals including: deletion, move between housing groups (i.e. cages), move cages to different rooms and buildings, mate and add new animals to the inventory. A flag button allows you to mark animals for routine tasks. You can also assign reminders to flags so they appear on the homepage within 48 hours of the event. Flags and flag definitions can be customized for free on purchase of AIMS.
Animal Details
Detailed information is captured for each animal. While some data can be manually entered such as genotyping results, other data are automatically captured such as mating history which tracks each mating along with the partner information allowing you to backtrack should genotype or experimental results be inconsistent. A notes section is available in which multiple notes can be kept for each animal.
Mating Manager
Matings can be setup using the mating manager. Using mating manager, estimated due dates are automatically calculated and can manually overridden if needed.
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Pre and post-natal data
As part of the mating manager, estimated prenatal ages are calculated and a notes can be captured. The postnatal section of the mating manager is an integrated part of AIMS in which offspring information is entered and new animals are added to the inventory.
Administrative view
The AIMS administrative section allows those with the appropriate privileges to import animals, create user accounts and customize each view.
New Features under development
Several features are currently under development including an experiments module which will allow you to assign animals to experimental and control groups and capture experiment data; cage card printing, uploading file attachments and more. The new features will be incorporated in the AIMS Professional Version which will be made available as a free upgrade to anyone purchasing the standard version before the professional version is released
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