LAMS™—A laboratory animal management system

Abstract.

The LAMS™ database stores data on a colony of breeding animals. Forms are hierarchial and show details of internal codes, matings, litters, and offspring. The identifier given to each animal can be subdivided as such. Each form shows an abbreviated list of the related data from the form one level down, and some special fields, when double-clicked, cause the related record to be displayed. The print button allows the user to print the current record and its related records. Other buttons on each form allow the user to amend, delete, find, and add records within certain rules. User-defined lists are created to allow the selection of various characteristics during data entry. The offspring form contains a section where the user can define the label of a comment and/or a text field. This name is then always subsequently available as an option in a list of user-defined labels. Reports are available for tailtipping dates (if applicable) and calculation of genetic ratios. A queryform allows the user to filter the records in the offspring form to the criteria specified, and a display of the actual query submitted is shown. An integrated HELP is available.

The LAMS™ database is available at http://www.hgu.mrc.ac.uk/Softdata/Lams