Automating Hand Written Chain of Custody Forms

AI to Increase Lab Productivity in Environmental Testing
Oral Presentation

Prepared by J. Phifer
AutoForge AI, 10 Conley Street, Greenville, South Carolina, 29605, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 864-320-2265

ABSTRACT

The presentation is a product overview for Autoforge AI, a tool designed to automate and streamline lab Chain of Custody (CoC) data entry, especially from handwritten forms.

1. Problem It Solves
Manual CoC processing is described as a major bottleneck in lab operations:

Time sink: Humans must read handwriting and type data into the LIMS; even small errors can cause delays or re-analysis.
Wasted resources: Highly trained scientists spend time on typing instead of analysis.

2. Core Solution
Autoforge AI provides auto-transcription of handwritten CoC forms into a structured data table via a simple upload workflow:

Simple, secure upload: Drag-and-drop documents.
Zero setup: No complex daily configuration.
Bulk processing: Works for individual urgent forms or large daily batches.
Intuitive UI: Minimal training required.

3. Parallel Batch Processing
Autoforge’s engine processes documents in parallel, not one by one:

Simultaneous extraction: Multiple files processed at once.
Background operation: Staff can work on other tasks while data is extracted.
High speed: Large volumes of forms are handled in the time it would take a person to type a single form.

4. Intelligent Validation & Review
The system focuses on maintaining quality and human oversight:

Side-by-side comparison: Original handwritten form is shown next to the extracted digital data, kept in sync.
Smart flagging: Low-confidence handwriting, missing dates, or likely errors are visually flagged (e.g., red icons).
One-click corrections: Users can edit data in a grid/spreadsheet-style interface before final submission.

5. Integrations & Ecosystem
Autoforge AI is built to integrate with existing lab and business systems:

ERP & CRM (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics 365): Architecture allows syncing of business data and client records.
LIMS (e.g., SENAITE, Promium, LabWare, QBench, etc.): Framework supports mapping extracted data into standard lab workflows.
Open API foundation: Designed to connect to a wide range of third-party software.
Intended workflow:
Upload (Autoforge) → Validate (Autoforge) → Sync to LIMS/ERP

6. Compliance & Security
The system aims to exceed typical manual documentation standards:

Full traceability: Every upload, edit, and approval is timestamped.
Digital audit trail: Permanent, reviewable record beyond what paper offers.
Regulatory alignment: Built to support EPA requirements and client-specific SOPs.

7. ROI & Operational Impact
Promised benefits:

Significant reduction in data entry time.
Major decrease in transcription errors.
Faster client reporting and turnaround times.
Framed as “real results, minimal risk.”