Tools for tracking lab samples

The problem, in plain words: “I need to keep track of hundreds of tubes and plates in freezers because I keep losing track of which box and position each sample is in.”

LabKey Sample Manager fits best, with 2 more that fit too.

You need a searchable system that records freezer → box → position for hundreds of tubes and plates so any sample can be found quickly.

Updated August 2026.

What fits

LabKey Sample Managerstrong · 90

Built specifically for end-to-end sample management with configurable freezer and storage management, location history, and freeze/thaw tracking, so it directly supports recording freezer, box and position for many samples.

Best for: Labs that want a cloud-hosted, audit-ready sample inventory and storage mapping across multiple freezers and users.

Genemodstrong · 88

Described as a LIMS/ELN that tracks every sample down to its box position, with inventory, barcode scanning and audit-ready records—its core purpose aligns with reliably finding tubes and plates by freezer, box and position.

Best for: Biotech and research labs needing enterprise-grade sample traceability including per-box position tracking and compliance features.

FreeLIMSstrong · 86

A cloud LIMS that explicitly mentions freezer storage mapping, barcode-based accessioning, and centralized sample records—covering large numbers of samples and searchable location/indexing for tubes and plates.

Best for: Teams that want a no-cost cloud LIMS to replace spreadsheets and add freezer mapping, barcode accessioning, and centralized search.

Partly fits

Inventariumpartial · 62

A lightweight desktop inventory tool that supports barcode generation/scanning and tracking individual labeled units, so it can catalog tubes and plates for a single-site lab.

Won’t cover: Designed as a desktop tool for small labs and not suited for large cloud or multi-site deployments that need centralized freezer maps.

Sample360.logisticspartial · 50

A mobile-focused sample tracking app for lab logistics and temperature chain that helps track samples through workflows, which can aid locating items in transit or during accessioning.

Won’t cover: Focused on logistics and temperature chain rather than explicit in-freezer box-and-position mapping for stored samples.

Questions

What's the best tool for tracking lab samples?

LabKey Sample Manager is the strongest match — Built specifically for end-to-end sample management with configurable freezer and storage management, location history, and freeze/thaw tracking, so it directly supports recording freezer, box and position for many samples.

Is there a tool that fully solves this?

3 products match this closely.

What won't these tools cover?

Designed as a desktop tool for small labs and not suited for large cloud or multi-site deployments that need centralized freezer maps. · Focused on logistics and temperature chain rather than explicit in-freezer box-and-position mapping for stored samples.

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Matched by Matchbox. Nothing here is sponsored and payment never affects ranking. Products link to their listings; some are auto-extracted and not yet maker-verified.