Summary

The 23.2 release primarily focused on improving the performance and security of the application. This article summarized several changes, based on the Release Notes content in the Technical File.

Additional details about the release can be found here: ClinSpark Version 23.2 is now available

Improved Filtering within Samples Processing Dashboard

Certain samples processing pathways can cause samples to remain ‘open’ indefinitely within the processing dashboard, forcing users to work around them. This can create a number of operational challenges and with the performance of the dashboard.

Open

An example of samples left ‘open’ on the dashboard for a long period of time, which may be appropriate for certain samples and/or pathways.

We've added some new capabilities into current design conventions which can allow samples in certain steps to become ‘hidden’ from dashboard views. 

Open

New configuration option in Samples > Configure > Update Sample Path Step

A new (and optional) step configuration can be utilized on any current or new pathway design. This will allow customers to evaluate its capabilities, and opt-in to using it as needed.

Certain samples that have not yet fully completed their pathways can be temporarily removed from active processing views, but still accessed and managed with a filter.

By default, this filter will be set to still show all the samples where the ‘hidden’ flag is not set on the current pathway step. The new visibility filter can be used to exclusively bring ‘hidden’ samples into view on the dashboard, if the current sample step is configured to hide it.

Improved validation checks against study-site removal

Improved validation logic was put in place for removing study-site association via the Study > Configure component. ClinSpark will check to see if there are calendar appointments associated to a given study site, and prevent removal if there are.

Strong validation is necessary because appointments are currently not recoverable if associated study sites are deleted. If done on accident, this can hinder recruitment efforts that have already taken place (as historic data associated with appointments is lost) and future efforts taken to recruit into studies/cohorts.

Performance Improvements

The performance for features supporting lab review workflows were improved. This includes per test/panel reviews, or, a group of panels.

Bulk SMS capabilities have been refactored and optimized for an improved performance, and reducing the need for workarounds.

With all performance related improvements, we typically aim to keep existing the functionality the same, but with a much quicker response time and optimal user experience.

Security Improvements and Dashboard Components

23.1 improves addressed certain vulnerabilities in user interface controls, some of which were included in select dashboard components. Due to this, updates were made to configurations related to the Subject Eligibility Overview and Unreviewed Study Labs dashboard components, which are included in release build. 

It is recommended those dashboard components be updated for customers who upgrade to the 23.1 release.  Customers that have questions about this are encouraged to reach out to the support team via service desk ticket. Additional details about the management of Dashboard components and upgrades can also be reviewed further here:

Upgrading ClinSpark

Report and Dashboard Versioning in ClinSpark