Chemical array fabrication with identifier

A method of generating, at a central fabrication station, addressable arrays of biopolymers on multiple substrates, comprising:

• (a) receiving from each of multiple remote stations, information on a layout of an array and an associated first identifier;
• (b) for each received first identifier and associated array, generating a local identifier corresponding to the first identifier and associated array, the local identifier being shorter in length than the corresponding first identifier;
• (c) fabricating an addressable array on the substrate in accordance with each received layout information;
• (d) applying a first copy of each local identifier to the substrate or a housing carrying the substrate, which substrate carries the array corresponding to the generated local identifier;
• (d) shipping each of the fabricated arrays and the first copy of the corresponding local identifier to one or more of the remote stations;
• and
• (e) forwarding a second copy of each corresponding local identifier to a remote station such that the local identifier is associated with the corresponding first identifier.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing, when loaded into a computer communicating with a fabricator to fabricate an addressable array on the substrate, the steps of:
• (a) receiving from a remote station, information on a layout of the array and an associated first identifier;
• (b) generating a local identifier corresponding to the first identifier and associated array, the local identifier being shorter in length than the corresponding first identifier;
• (c) controlling fabrication of the addressable array on the substrate in accordance with the received layout information;
• (d) applying a first copy of the local identifier to the substrate or a housing carrying the substrate;
• and
• (e) generating a second copy of the corresponding local identifier and forwarding the second copy to the remote station such that the local identifier is associated with the corresponding first identifier.