Lab notebook template
By the Vara team · Updated 2026-10-21
A general lab notebook template. The fields follow the eight items in how to keep a lab notebook, plus samples, instruments, calculations, and sign-off. Print it and write by hand, or download the Markdown version and fill it in on your computer. A filled-in Western blot example is at the bottom.
Lab notebook entry
1. Basics
- Date:
- Experiment ID:
- Page(s):
- Recorded by:
- Project:
- Protocol and version:
2. Aim
The question this experiment should answer, in one or two sentences
3. Materials and reagents
Record a new lot as a new line; for solutions you made, note the date made
| Name | Supplier | Catalog no. | Lot no. | Concentration or grade | Opened or made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4. Samples
IDs match the labels on tubes and plates
| Sample ID | Source or group | Passage or treatment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
5. Instruments and settings
| Instrument | ID | Key settings |
|---|---|---|
6. Calculations
Write solution, dilution, and loading math here, not on scrap paper
7. Steps and actual parameters
Planned values come from the protocol; actual values are what you really used
| Time | Step | Planned | Actual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8. Deviations
Anything that differed from the plan; write "none" if nothing did
| No. | What changed | Why | Possible effect |
|---|---|---|---|
9. Raw data location
File names include the date and experiment ID
| Content | File name | Folder |
|---|---|---|
10. Results and observations
Observation first, interpretation second; record failed and negative results too
11. Next steps
12. Sign-off
- Recorded by / date:
- Reviewed by / date:
How to use it
- One entry per experiment; for multi-day work, keep going in the same entry and put the date in the time column.
- Copy planned values from the protocol and write the values you actually used next to them. Any difference goes into deviations.
- Calculations go in section 6. You can work out dilutions and solutions with the free lab calculators and copy the formula and result in.
- Write "none" or cross out fields you do not use instead of leaving them blank.
- Need a Word or PDF run sheet? Sub-experiments you manage in Vara can be exported directly; see export a run sheet.
Filled-in example: Western blot
Suppliers, catalog numbers, and values are made up to show how much detail each field needs. Experimental design and conclusions are your own call.
1. Basics
- Date:
- 2026-10-21 to 2026-10-22
- Experiment ID:
- WB-014
- Page(s):
- 37 to 38
- Recorded by:
- XY
- Project:
- Effect of drug A on protein X expression
- Protocol and version:
- Lab WB protocol v3 (revised 2026-09)
2. Aim
The question this experiment should answer, in one or two sentences
Check whether protein X expression in HeLa cells changes after 24 h of drug A treatment.
3. Materials and reagents
Record a new lot as a new line; for solutions you made, note the date made
| Name | Supplier | Catalog no. | Lot no. | Concentration or grade | Opened or made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIPA buffer (with protease inhibitors) | Supplier A | CAT-0001 | L2309-11 | 1× | Opened 2026-10-02 |
| BCA assay kit | Supplier B | CAT-0002 | L2401-05 | Per kit insert | Opened 2026-09-15 |
| Primary: anti-protein X (rabbit) | Supplier C | CAT-0003 | L2310-07 | 1 mg/mL | Opened 2026-08-30 |
| Loading control: anti-β-actin (mouse) | Supplier C | CAT-0004 | L2305-02 | 1 mg/mL | Opened 2026-06-11 |
4. Samples
IDs match the labels on tubes and plates
| Sample ID | Source or group | Passage or treatment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Control | HeLa P12, untreated | |
| S2 | Treated | HeLa P12, drug A 10 µM, 24 h | |
| S3 | Treated | HeLa P12, drug A 20 µM, 24 h | Cells slightly sparse at harvest |
5. Instruments and settings
| Instrument | ID | Key settings |
|---|---|---|
| Electrophoresis unit | E-02 | Stacking 80 V, resolving 120 V |
| Transfer unit | T-01 | Wet transfer 300 mA, 90 min, on ice |
| Chemiluminescence imager | I-01 | Exposures 30 s and 60 s |
6. Calculations
Write solution, dilution, and loading math here, not on scrap paper
Load 20 µg per lane. S1 at 2.5 µg/µL: 8.0 µL; S2 at 2.0 µg/µL: 10.0 µL; S3 at 2.2 µg/µL: 9.1 µL. Bring each to 10 µL with lysis buffer, then add 2.5 µL of 5× loading buffer.
7. Steps and actual parameters
Planned values come from the protocol; actual values are what you really used
| Time | Step | Planned | Actual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-21 09:10 | Lyse, spin, keep supernatant | 12,000 ×g, 4 °C, 15 min | 12,000 ×g, 4 °C, 15 min | |
| 09:40 | BCA assay | 37 °C, 30 min | 37 °C, 30 min | Concentrations in section 6 |
| 10:30 | SDS-PAGE | 10% gel, 20 µg per lane | As planned | |
| 12:20 | Transfer | 300 mA, 90 min | 300 mA, 90 min | |
| 14:00 | Block | 5% milk, 1 h | 5% milk, 1.5 h | See deviation 1 |
| 15:40 | Primary antibody | 1:1000, 4 °C overnight | 1:1000, 4 °C, 16 h | |
| 10-22 08:30 | Secondary antibody | 1:5000, RT, 1 h | 1:5000, 24 °C, 1 h | Room temp measured |
| 10:00 | Image | 30 s exposure | 30 s and 60 s | See deviation 2 |
8. Deviations
Anything that differed from the plan; write "none" if nothing did
| No. | What changed | Why | Possible effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blocking 1.5 h instead of 1 h | Lab meeting ran late | Keep in mind when comparing background with last run |
| 2 | Extra 60 s exposure | 30 s bands looked weak | Both saved; which one was analyzed is noted in results |
9. Raw data location
File names include the date and experiment ID
| Content | File name | Folder |
|---|---|---|
| Blot, 30 s | WB-014_exp30s.tif | Lab NAS/WB/2026-10-22/ |
| Blot, 60 s | WB-014_exp60s.tif | Lab NAS/WB/2026-10-22/ |
| BCA readings | WB-014_BCA.xlsx | Lab NAS/WB/2026-10-21/ |
10. Results and observations
Observation first, interpretation second; record failed and negative results too
Protein X bands in S2 and S3 are fainter than S1, faintest in S3; β-actin looks even across lanes. The 60 s image has high background, so the 30 s image is used for quantification. First run; needs repeating.
11. Next steps
Two more repeats; add a 48 h time point; about 30 µL of primary left, so reorder and compare the new lot with the old one before switching.
12. Sign-off
- Recorded by / date:
- XY / 2026-10-22
- Reviewed by / date:
Import the template into Vara
Paste a filled-in entry as text, or upload a PDF or a photo of a handwritten page. Vara splits it into steps and parameters and labels each parameter's source (from the source, AI inferred, or missing from the source); you review them before the experiment is created. After that, each run gets its results, observations, and deviations recorded in Vara, and you can compare it with the last run. Vara is one way to keep digital records: it has no electronic signatures and is not 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, so follow your institution if it requires a compliant system.