Figure 2.

Illustration of application logic for complex sample acquisition scenarios. In each scenario, three different samples are collected. The date of collection is shown, along with the consent type(s) in effect at that time. The scenario then shows the outcome of scanning each sample in the ‘traffic light’ application in October 2011. In the top scenario, the patient withdrew from Better Outcomes for Children (BOfC), so all of their previously collected samples would be destroyed. In the second scenario, the sample collected in June 2011 would be acceptable for use as it was collected under a ‘yes’ consent. The second sample was collected when there were two effective consents and the third under a ‘refused consent,’ so both would be unusable. In the third scenario, the first sample cannot be used as it was collected during a period of undecided consent. The second was collected when there were two effective consents and is therefore unusable. The third sample was collected under a ‘yes’ consent and is therefore acceptable for use.