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NAHPU Documentation

Specimen Parts

Use Specimen Parts for voucher preparations, tissues, swabs, parasites, and other physical parts derived from the specimen. Each specimen can have multiple parts.

The parasite tab is available for mammals, birds, herpetofauna, and fishes. It is not available for invertebrate catalogs. For a fish lot with recorded individuals, parts and parasites can be linked to the individuals they came from; see Fishes.

Part fields include:

  • Tissue ID: optional tissue identifier. NAHPU can repeat or generate the next configured tissue number.
  • Individuals: shown only for a fish lot with recorded individuals. Links the part to one or more individuals in the lot.
  • QR/barcode ID: optional unique ID for a tube, tag, or container. On mobile, NAHPU can scan a QR/barcode; it can also generate a UUID.
  • Preparation type: user-defined specimen part type.
  • Counts: number of parts or containers.
  • Treatment: preservation treatment.
  • Additional treatment: optional second treatment.
  • Storage type: storage medium or method.
  • Storage location: freezer, cabinet, shelf, or container location.
  • Time taken: time the part was taken, recommended for fresh tissues.
  • Preparator: part-level preparator when different from the voucher preparator.
  • Date taken: date the part was taken.
  • PMI: post-mortem interval, for example 1:30.
  • Museum permanent: museum that permanently holds the part.
  • Museum loan: museum receiving the part on loan.
  • Remarks: notes specific to the part.

The part list displays the part type, count, barcode ID, preparator, tissue ID, treatment, date/time, PMI, and whether a remark exists.

Parasite records separate collection from identification. Collector is who recovered the parasite and starts as the host's preparator, or its cataloger when no preparator is set. Determiner, Date determined, and Determination method record who identified the parasite, when, and how. The method uses the same vocabulary as the specimen ID method. Choosing a Category narrows the Anatomical location list to sites that fit it. Locations you added yourself always stay in the list.

Parasite curation records carry their own Storage and Storage location fields so the preservation method and physical location can be recorded separately.