Plugins can support your analysis by providing a wide range of pre- and post-analysis data processing options. Plugins are built bespoke with your needs specifically in mind, so you can rest assured that you will squeeze the most out of every data point.
Extend QuBAS with Bespoke Plugins
Powerful Plugin Capabilities
We’ve had years of experience building plugins to support a wide range of client needs, including:
File Format Processing
QuBAS imports data in any standard delimited file format, such as .csv and .txt. If your data output is in a different file format, we can build a plugin to convert the data into a format readable by QuBAS. If your plate reader is powered by SoftMax Pro, then good news! We have a pre-built plugin ready to use for free.
Automation of Manual Steps
If your analysis calls for any manual steps outside of QuBAS, such as data transfer, plate combination/splitting, adding metadata, or another process, a plugin could be the answer. No more copying and pasting between Excel sheets!
Pre-analysis data processing
A plugin could be used to perform any pre-analysis mathematical procedures required, allowing you to simply work with raw data from your plate reader. Examples might include a wavelength subtration or response normalisation.
Simplify Multi-stage Analyses
Does your assay require an analysis with multiple stages before achieving a reportable result? A plugin could be used to combine these stages into a simple, continuous analysis.
Post-analysis processing
We regularly encounter clients who require post-analysis data processing, whether that’s exporting results into a specific file format or into a different document. A plugin means all the manual steps in this process can be removed.
All plugins are built to GxP standards, powered by the same CrtV processes behind QuBAS itself.
How does it work?
- Get in touch! Whether you’re a current QuBAS user looking to make your workflow more efficient, or someone looking to get started, let us know how we can help you! Use the form below to make a plugin request, or visit our Contact Us page
- We’ll reach out to you to discuss your request. We might require some more information about your requirements at this stage. We’ll then send you a quote for the work required to design and implement the plugin.
- Once the quote has been agreed, in most cases our team will produce a User Requirement Specification (URS) to formalise the agreed scope of the plugin. When this is completed and signed, it’s time to build the plugin!
- When the plugin is complete, we will perform extensive testing and QA/QC testing. Once complete, we will then have you test the plugin in the environment it will be used. When it’s working as expected, we will formally release the plugin, and it will be ready for GxP use.
Submit the form below to make your plugin request
Previous Projects
Excel Importer
Plate Reader: N/A
Input file format: .csv
Converts Excel file to QuBAS-readable .csv. When in operation, Excel files can be directly uploaded for use in QuBAS.
CSV to Tab-seperated File Converter
Plate Reader: N/A
Input file format: .csv
Produces a tab-separated file suitable for QuBAS from a .csv file. The plugin extracts and rearranges the bioassay data to a rectangular format.
Gen5 Plate Normalisation
Plate Reader: Gen5 BioTek
Input file format: Excel
This plugin takes the results from a Gen5 Biotek plate reader as an Excel document. It then generates a QuBAS file with normalised responses and added metadata.
Skanit Plate Splitter
Plate Reader: Skanit
Input file format: XML
This plugin is designed to generate two tab-separated files compatible with QuBAS from a Skanit XML file. The plugin extracts plate data and divides it into two separate plates, which are then forwarded to QuBAS.
SoftMax Pro Importer
Plate Reader: SoftMax Pro
Input file format: Text
The aim of this plugin is to import results exported from SoftMaxPro (SMP) as UTF-16-encoded text file. The plugin re-encodes the file in UTF-8 and correctly escapes the double-quotes to match the CSV standard.
BioTek Importer Excel Importer & Response Calculation
Plate Reader: BioTek
Input file format: Excel
The plugin is designed to generate a tab-separated text file from a BioTek plate reader Excel output. This text file contains the calculated responses and the metadata. The responses are calculated as the geometric means of the original results, for each replicate.
Model Generator
Plate Reader: N/A
Input file format: Excel
Generates a collection of models from a dataset for the optimal model to be selected in a second step. Models differ by the set of doses they use: all 4 doses, only the top 3 doses, only the bottom 3 doses. Takes an Excel file containing the responses and the metadata as input, from which the plugin produces 3 TSV (tab-separated values) files containing all the models for the reference and each of the three samples.
Optimal Model Selector
Plate Reader: N/A
Input file format: QuBAS XML
The aim of this program is to select the best models from a collection of QuBAS results. The model selector collects the results from an analysis in XML format, selects the best model according to certain criteria, and writes an html report. This report is then used by a QuBAS user when they combine the relative potency from different models.
QX Manager Importer
Plate Reader: QX Manager
Input file format: Excel
Converts the layout of QX Manager export files for readability in QuBAS and captures metadata.
Skanit Converter & Wavelength Subtractor
Plate Reader: Skanit
Input file format: Text
Imports data as two plates in different wavelengths. Combines this data into a single plate by performing a wavelength subtraction, and converts into a QuBAS-readable input file.
Skanit XML Converter
Plate Reader: Skanit
Input file format: XML
Imports an XML file output containing responses at each wavelength, information about masked wells and metadata. The plugin generates a file with the expected encoding, the plate difference (or simple responses if there is only one wavelength) and the metadata.
ISO8859_1 to UTF-8 Converter
Plate Reader: N/A
Input file format: Text
Reads in an ISO8859_1 text file and re-encodes it in UTF-8. It also takes care of the line breaks by normalising them to ‘CRLF’, as expected on Windows systems.
UTF-16 to UTF-8 Converter
Plate Reader: N/A
Input file format: Text
Reads in an UTF-16 text file and re-encodes it in UTF-8.
XCelligence Converter
Plate Reader: XCelligence
Input file format: Excel
Imports an XCelligence export file and averages data, extracts metadata and rearranges data into a rectangular format
Plate Builder
Plate Reader: XCelligence
Input file format: A zip file containing CSV files and a text file containing metadata
Combines multiple outputs from a plate reader into a single text file. The responses (in multiple CSV files) and the metadata (in a separate text file) are packaged in a zip file.
Potency formatter
Plate Reader: 32 Karat (Beckman Coulter, Inc.)
Input file format: Text
Processes a text file produced by 32 Karat (Beckman Coulter, Inc.). It normalises the responses, re-arranges the layout to make it easier to work with, and saves with a more descriptive filename
SoftMax Pro File Zipper
Plate Reader: SoftMax Pro
Input file format: A zip file containing text files
Facilitates the processing by QuBAS of bioassay results from a collection of SoftMax Pro files. Generates a tab-separated text file with the pre-processed responses and the metadata. A QuBAS file is created for each of the plates in each of the files.
Hidex Plate Processor
Plate Reader: Hidex Sense
Input file format: .csv
Generates a tab-separated text file with the pre-processed responses and the metadata from a Hidex Sense plate reader output. The responses are calculated as the geometric means of the original results for each pair of replicates.
SoftMax Pro XML Result collector
Plate Reader: N/A
Input file format: A zip file containing XML files
Collects XML results produced by QuBAS from a collection of SoftMax Pro files into a zipped folder.
Generic Free Plugins
Alongside our bespoke plugins offering, we have off-the-shelf plugins avaliable to install with the click of a button. These link QuBAS to commonly used tools, allowing you to streamline your analysis from day one.
SoftMax Pro Importer
The SoftMax Pro Importer plugin automatically converts the output from a Molecular Devices plate reader into a .csv format ready to be used within QuBAS. Simply install in your QuBAS method and import your SMP file. This plugin is a must for all those using Auto-Import with a Molecular Devices plate reader!
Use the multiplate importer when your output includes multiple plates. The plugin will automatically create one QuBAS-readable file per plate.
Microsoft Excel Importer
The Microsoft Excel Importer allows you to import Excel files directly into QuBAS with no pre-processing required. When an Excel file is imported, the first sheet is automatically converted to a fomat natively readable by QuBAS, saving you even more time and effort when analysing your assay.
Installing Plugins
- Download the plugin script using one of the links above
- Log into QuBAS as an Administrative user
- Navigate to the “Plugins” tab in the Admin room
- Click on the “Upload plugin” button
- Browse to the downloaded plugin on your computer or network, and click open
- After installation, the plugin can be enabled and disabled by clicking on its name and using the “Plugin Enabled” control
If you run into any issues, please do not hesitate to get in touch with QuBAS Support.