In a previous article, we introduced the different types of results data🔗 the Delvotest® Accelerator Smart (DAS) generates during and after testing, and how to access them. One of these is the go-to format for advanced data analysis and auditing, containing a detailed, minute-by-minute view of each plate-well (e.g., ID, Z-values, etc.), and external measurements (e.g., operator, temperature, method, etc.). In this article, we explore this report file in depth.
❗Do not open, extract nor navigate in a Test subfolder during running an incubation as this will result in aborting the running test. Only access the test subfolder once the incubation is completed.
Access and Structure
To access one of these .csv reports, simply follow the steps outlined in Introducing Results🔗. The csv file can be adjusted via the setup page. The two fields that can be customized are the delimiter to separate between fields and the order of wells in the report. read more about CSV delimiter and report order on the setup article 🔗.
The example below will explain how data are structured in a semicolon separated CSV file with columns order first (A01, A02, A03…). Once you open the file in your software of choice (e.g., Microsoft Excel), you should see something like this:
If you'd like to get this example file, here's the download link🔗. // add link
Consolidated in a single data sheet, the report contains four tables. In order, from top to bottom, including their immutable (i.e., always at the same place) row-line identifiers, here's what they are:
Rows 1-2
Summary Data Section
Outlining critical, overarching information about the test. Similar to the data presented in the Results Data// .pdf
Rows 4-100
Plate Table Section
Reflecting the Incubation tab's Plate table subsection, similar to Cell data panel🔗. The order in which wells are listed 🔗is defined via the setup page.
Rows 102-120
Method Settings and Warnings Section
Reflecting the parameters selected in the Settings tab🔗including warnings that indicate deviations.
Rows 122-123
Detailed Temperature Data Section
Consists of a single array of temperature entries for every minute throughout the duration of the incubation.
Summary Data Section
This section contains thirteen report fields as column headers (Row 1), and data (Row 2). Following the data in the example file (download link🔗) // add link //, here's what each column header name means, and, when relevant, where you can find more information.
❗Csv files will automatically open via Word Microsoft Excel in most windows systems. The local language settings in your laptop can affect how the information of the .csv file is displayed.
The results file can appear either with the semicolon separator between fields or automatically split in individual columns. This Microsoft explanation guide 🔗 explains how to split your delimited data in columns.
Once following the instructions above, the summary data section of the csv file (Rows 1-2) is displayed as below:
Operator
Column Label: A
Example Data: Guilherme Augusto
Explanation
The name of the operator selected when preparing the test🔗 in the Incubation tab's Operator dropdown field🔗.
Your list of operators is also available for you to view and edit🔗in the Set up tab.
DeviceName
Column Label: B
Example Data: DAS_1112
Explanation
The DAS's which executed the test's name, which you can view and edit🔗in the Set up tab.
Date
Column Label: C
Example Data: 2024-12-05
Explanation
The date when the test started, defined according to this DAS's customisable localisation settings🔗. It's formatted with hyphen ('-') delimiters between its year (four digits), month (two digits), and day (two digits) values.
∴ YYYY-MM-DD
e.g., for 5 December 2024, the result should be 2024-12-05.
Time
Column Label: D
Example Data: 11:55:02
Explanation
The time the test started, using a 24-hour clock, formatted with colon (':') delimiters between its hour (two digits), minute (two digits), and seconds (two digits) values.
∴ HH:MM:SS
e.g., for 11:55:22 (AM), the result should be 11:55:22.
Product
Column Label: E
Example Data: DELVOTEST T
Explanation
The test line of your Delvotest® plate, as automatically identified by the DAS when preparing the test🔗 in the Incubation tab's Product name field🔗.
Duration
Column Label: F
Example Data: 03:19:04
Explanation
The total time taken for the plate's incubation—which, based on the DAS's Working Principle🔗 is incidentally also the plate's Control Time🔗. It's formatted with colon (':') delimiters between its hour (two digits), minute (two digits), and seconds (two digits) values.
∴ HH:MM:SS
e.g., for a test that took 3 hours, 19 minutes and 4 seconds, the result should be 03:19:04.
Comment before
Column Label: G
Example Data: my first test
Explanation
The data entered when preparing the test🔗 in the Incubation tab's Comments field🔗.
Lot# & Plate#
Column Label: H
Example Data: 8+("03609+(30006hosf
Explanation
Raw, encrypted data from the scanned barcode.
Batch-id
Column Label: I
Example Data: 24K08B30
Explanation
The data identified either during automatic barcode scanning or manual barcode input🔗 when preparing the test in the Incubation tab's Batch number field🔗.
Plate-nr
Column Label: J
Example Data: 360
Explanation
The data identified either during automatic barcode scanning or manual barcode input🔗 when preparing the test in the Incubation tab's Plate number field🔗.
Expiration date
Column Label: K
Example Data: 2025-11-08
Explanation
Expiry date of the test plate.
MeasurementName
Column Label: L
Example Data: 0004__20241205-115522
Explanation
The unique identifier which follows its respective Test subfolder's name and its naming convention🔗.
Comment after
Column Label: M
Example Data: - empty-
Explanation
Any comment provided after the incubation is complete. This is an optional field and in the shared example, a comment was not given. You can add this comment, as described on the step ‘Check results’ via the ‘Running your first test, step by step guide’ 🔗
Plate Table Section
This section contains four report fields as column headers (Row 4), and data (Rows 5 to 100), as shown in the picture below. Following the data in the example file (download link🔗) // add link //, here's what each column header name means, and, when relevant, where you can find more information.
💡 By the way, did you know that the order of the results data can be adjusted? DAS gives you the option is to display all the wells sorted by plate column (A01, A02, A03…) or sorted by plate rows (A01, B01, C01…). To make a choice refer to Set up – ‘Report Order first Columns’ 🔗.
Position
Column Label: A
Example Data: A01
Explanation
Every Delvotest® plate's plate-wells contains unique identifying coordinates🔗. In this .csv results data file, rows 5 to 100 list all possible plate-wells in a Delvotest® plate (i.e., from A1 to H12), in the order defined at Set up – ‘Report Order first Columns’ 🔗.Importantly, here all plate-row labels are standardised in a two-digit format, where, for example, instead of 'A1' it is instead noted as 'A01'. Lastly, even when plate-wells are not tested (e.g., when testing plate-blocks), these rows will still be present, albeit with no data generated for Result (‘NA’) and Description columns (empty).
Z-value
Column Label: B
Example Data: -9.15
Explanation
Based on the DAS's Working Principle🔗, this column reports each plate-well's final Z-scale value as determined at Control Time. The Z-values are not in any way making Delvotest® quantitative. The test remains a qualitative POS or NEG test based on microbial inhibition. Any Z-values listed for not tested plate- wells (e.g., when testing plate-blocks), should be disregarded.
Result
Column Label: C
Example Data: neg
Explanation
Based on the DAS's Working Principle🔗, this column reports each plate-well's final NEGATIVE or POSITIVE results as determined at Control Time. It does this textually, in lowercase abbreviations of these outcomes respectively—i.e., 'neg' or 'pos'. When plate-wells are not tested (e.g., when testing plate-blocks), the text reports ‘NA’.
Description
Column Label: D
Example Data: Bulktank7794
Explanation
In the Incubation tab🔗, under the plate table subsection, we explain how wells with known milk control samples can be marked as NEGATIVE or POSITIVE control. In this column, on the csv report, the text [NEG] or [POS] will display accordingly. If any other description is given during the layout preparation for a known control sample, it will display next to the brackets without any spaces as below:
i.e. [NEG]blank or i.e.[POS]penicillin4Method Settings and Warnings Section
The section contains nineteen report fields, with each field presented as an individual row (Rows 102 to 120). Each row includes:
- A header in the first column, identifying the field (e.g., name, temperatureSetpoint, maximumIncubationTime); and
- The reported data in the second column, corresponding to the value for that field (e.g., method-DelvoT, 64.0, 14400.0).
Rows 102 to 119 correspond to the method selected in the Incubation tab's Inhibitor method dropdown field🔗 when preparing the test, whose parameters are defined in the Settings tab🔗.
Row 120 reports any textual warnings the DAS generates whenever abnormal performance is detected—which you can learn more about in Introducing Results Warnings🔗.
Detailed Temperature Data Section
This section logs the incubation temperature data in a horizontal format, with time and corresponding temperature values presented across columns. It is structured as follows:
- Row 122 contains the time headers, where the first cell is labelled Time [min], and each subsequent cell row represents a specific minute (with one decimal point) of the incubation process—starting from 0.0 and increasing incrementally by one minute (e.g., 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, etc.).
- Row 123 contains the corresponding temperature data, where the first cell is labelled Temperature°, and each subsequent cell reports the temperature measured (with one decimal point) at the corresponding time indicated in Row 122.
File Naming Convention
Particularly helpful for automating reporting functions when integrating DAS data flows with your systems e.g., Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), except for its file format, this .csv report file follows the same standard naming convention as the .pdf results file🔗.
💡 By the way,
the DAS can automatically send the generated result and calibration reports to a shared location in your network? The Setup// backup article 🔗 can guide you through on the steps to enable this functionality in your system.
Next Steps
If this is the first type of results data🔗 you've explored in depth, a great next step is to have a look at the raw image files the DAS also generates for every test.
⏭️ Next series: Results Data // Raw images🔗
💬 Got any questions? Need help? Get in touch support@delvotest.com