A laboratory sample labelling method?

Question

Samples come in in large numbers. They must be dissected and put into individual tiny tubes. The original samples have a barcode. The tubes are currently put in batches of 90 and are labelled with a batch number and 1-90. This is time consuming. How can the original barcode data be used to identify the final tubes? Anybody else do something similar without a member of staff having to stand there with a label gun?

Answer 1

The only thing I could think of is to have a set of pre-printed labels in sheets- which could be done in Word or another processor- that work like this:

When you receive in a sample with a barcode, this barcode is tied to a given sample sheet- a new batch number, in effect- in your laboratory log book. The sheet would then be cut into 90 labels, and these taped to the tubes.

Example: Sample with barcode number 1234 comes in the door. This is tied to batch number 000A. You print a page with 1-90 tags, consisting of 000A-1 to 000A-90. That sort of thing.

An alternative would be to buy a small barcode printer, like a Dymo LabelWriter, and use something like their 1/2" x 1/2" labels, or 1/2" x 1" labels, or even 1" x 1" labels. The label-making software would allow you to serially number the individual labels so that you could use the original barcode number, and then serially number each one 1-90.

Should cost about $200 to get you going- expensive and quick. I use something similar in the lab.

Answer 2

If you want to avoid individually labelling each tube with a label gun, you could catalogue the tubes and batches by another means. One way is to use containers that hold one batch, divided into 90 subsections, with the numbers on the compartments, and one batch number per box. This does run the risk of tubes being mixed up and replaced in the wrong holder if they're in and out a lot, but it is handy if they are mainly for storage and not removed much.

An alternative way is to place the identification code on the caps of the tubes. The Lab equipment supplier may be able to provide caps that are pre-printed with numbers 1-90, which could then be all kept together in the box labelled with the batch number. If numbers aren't available, maybe different colours would be, but you may have to have less than 90 in a batch in that case.

For the barcode question, there are various barcode reader software packages out there. (Think of the variety of scanners in shops and supermarkets).

When a shop gets new stock they scan the one barcode from the main box, type the details into the till computer (name, price), and then those details are reproduced when each item in the box is later scanned.

Maybe if you had a barcode reader for the original sample, and you could reproduce that barcode onto the tiny tubes, you could then reread the code from any tube and immediately identify the contents. To do this without labels might mean one barcode per batch box, and the suggestions above to differentiate 1-90.

Hope you figure it out soon!

Answer 3

have to have labels pre-printed so when the sample is recieved the rest of the labels are put on to the tubes, etc.

Answer 4

search web with key words for a software

Answer 5

no