Keeping up with advancing laboratory technology

As the complexity of pre-clinical and clinical testing has increased over the last decade, labs have been challenged with collecting, processing, and storing more and more samples on a daily basis. To minimize errors and keep lab efficiency strong, labs depend on robust identification solutions, consisting of high-quality barcode labels, tags, and tapes. The laboratory environment has been characterized by ongoing rapid and dramatic innovation, including the implementation of high-throughput techniques that often require the labeling of large amounts of small sample tubes, such as cryovials, microtubes, and PCR tubes.  

If you've read our previous blogs, you already know about printing and barcode technologies and the key role they play in improving identification, traceability and productivity. But did you know that there's another power technology that businesses and laboratories are using to accomplish even more? Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an established technology dating back to its earliest prototypes in 1973, when engineer Mario Cardullo first patented a device that could emit a coded signal in response to remote radio frequencies. Today it exists as a powerful identification tool used in a wide array of industries. It can keep record of medications in hospitals, allow authorized personnel in secure areas, and provides invaluable support to inventory and supply chain tracking. It’s likely that you’ve encountered this technology in your day-to day life, whether speeding through checkouts with your tap-to-pay chip, stepping through scanners on your way out of the store, or scanning your toll pass on the way to work.

When choosing the print-on-demand labeling solution that’s right for your application, it is important to take into consideration what printing method you will be using. The choice of a printer can greatly affect the durability of your labels, as well as the type of applications they can be used in. There are several options available to choose from, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. 

The Design of a Label

While at first choosing the right label might sound simple, the reality is, labels have evolved over the years to become complex in terms of their material, physical properties and applications. As such, what was once a straight-forward exercise has become quite daunting due to the large variety of options available. To ensure you pick the best label for the job, there are few things to consider. Before deciding on which type of label is right for your unique needs, let’s review the basic anatomy of a label.