Variable result types

Result types in Chemaxon assay can be set as "variables".

Benefits of using the variable feature:

1. No need to create different protocols for each set of assay conditions
2. Distinguish assay conditions from assay results
3. Smart aggregation: Values of a variable result type will be used to categorise the aggregation of related results

There are two ways to use the variable feature:

1. Set a result type as a variable in the Chemaxon Assay template

   1. Open the Chemaxon Assay template
   2. Navigate to the result types tab
   3. Set the variable column to yes
   4. In the processed data tab create a column which will include the values for your variables eg. "cell line"
   5. Enter a value in each row eg. "DU145"
   6. Each value will be associated with any other values in the same row whether standard or variable result type
   7. In the mapping tab, set the protocol abbreviation for the variable result type columns to "var" and set the result type values to any relevant abbreviation #

2. Set a result type as a variable using the Chemaxon Assay user interface

   • Using the setup tab
     1. Navigate to the setup tab
     2. Select result type and click add new
     3. Add the details of the new result type and then select the variable checkbox
   • 'On the fly' during an interactive upload process
     1. Upload an interactive excel sheet
     2. In the SOPs section, select an already existing variable result type (they will be marked with a thermometer symbol)
     3. Or, select Add new result type at the bottom of the dropdown box and proceed to add the details in the sidebar, making sure to select the variable checkbox

Example use case

A cell viability assay is conducted for a single lead compound against three cell lines and two targets, and IC50 measurements are calculated. The processed results will be uploaded using Chemaxon Assay.

The processed data tab of the Chemaxon assay template shows the main IC50 result column alongside two columns which define the assay conditions used for these measurements

Two result types are added to the Chemaxon template in the result types tab: "Cell line" and "Target". In the variable column they are both set to Yes.

Under the mapping tab set the protocol for the cell line and target columns as "var". This is simply a placeholder protocol for all variables in the system.

Using the variable result types allows one to visualise the assay conditions in the connected analysis application. Distinct aggregated values are generated for each unique combination of variables. In this case we see a single aggregated IC50 value for compound CXN1-002 for each cell line on two different targets.