# Lab notebook entry

> Template from the Vara Help Center: https://varaapp.site/docs/lab-notebook/template?lang=en
> One entry per experiment. Write "none" in fields you do not use instead of leaving them blank. A filled-in example is at the end.

## 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:

---

# Filled-in example: Western blot

> Suppliers, catalog numbers, and values are made up to show how much detail each field needs.

## 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

Check whether protein X expression in HeLa cells changes after 24 h of drug A treatment.

## 3. Materials and reagents

| 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

| 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

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

| 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

| 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

| 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

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: