BAR CODES

Bar coding: Labs go 2D

By Mary Hattie

O riginally, barcodes were linear and consisted of aseries

orpaiallel lines of varying widths. The parallel lines en-
Lüded data and were read by a laser oplical device known
as a scanner or reader. Using the UPC bar-code form first took
commercial hold in grocery stores, department stores, and other
mass [nc re h and i sers. Gradually, the technology was adopted by
other industries and migrated into hospitals and laboratories
where utilizing barcodes, such as Code 128. ISBT 128,Code
39, or Interleaved 2 of 5. beeame commonplace.
Today, bar-code labels are critical to laboratory op-
erations where essential patient accessioning, clinical
testing, or research functions occur.
Currently, the biizz in the industry is about the limited as to how aggressive the adhesives or how
growing ascendency of 2D bar codes in the United resistant the media can be to extreme chemicals or
States and Japan. A 2D bar eode is non-linear and temperature conditions. The best solution is a direct
consists of black-and-white "cells" or "modules" thermal or thermal transfer printer, both widely
arranged in a matrix paltem — typically ^ ^ ^ ^ available. Look for a brand that offers
a square — which, in lurn. encapsulates a small, desktop units engineered to print
"tinder" pattern and a "reader" pattern. A 2D symbols are omni- labels reliably aiul llexibly. Manufactur-
2D. or two-dimensional, bar code can store directionally scannable — ers include Zebra Technologies, Datamax.
a staggering amount of raw data in a very upside down, backward or Intermee, and Sato.
small space. Hospitals can capture and forward, and even diagonally Next, consider the appropriate bar-code
store a wealth of coniidcntial inlbrEnation — making them the ideal dcsign-and-printing software — particu-
with ease (e.g.. patient name, date of birth, choice in a hectic or cramped larly a product that is ODBC-compliant
known allergies, current medications, laboratory environment. (i.e.. open database connectivity), a feature
hospital r(K)m number, blood lype. lab ac- imperative forconnection to LIS or HIS da-
cession numher. phlebotomy test orders, tabases. Look for a software program that
complete sample profiles, X-ray/CT scan orders and results, is versatile; powerful; intuitively easy to use; and that handles
health insurance/billing information). text, bar codes, hutnan-readable numbers, and even graphics
Any anti all information entered into a laboratory or hos- with ease. Another software feature to consider carefully is a
pital information system (LIS or HIS) database can find its "securitycenter"application to ensure that ill-intentioned — or
way into the 2D symbol through connectivity with bar-code even iir/Z-intentioned ^ users cannot change the label design
design-and-printing software. In short, with 2D bar coding. or label data. This feature provides secure record-keeping tunc-
every bit of information relating to point-of-care or hospital tions for label printing. Software choices include BarTender,
protocol can be stored in a tiny symbol that is 2 mm to 3 mm NiceLabei, and Ltiftware Label Manager.
square. 2D bar codes are capacious enough to store thousands 2D symboiogies cannot be read by a laser scanner; they
of characters. must be scanned by an image-based scanner employing a
2D symbology also offers an esp)ecially advantageous feature charge-coupled device, or CCD. or some olher digiial-camera
for laboratories and hospitals: It is not as susceptible to printing sensor technology. The latter utili/e a small video camera to
defects or errors as traditional 1D bar codes. The coding pattern capture an image of the barcode. The bar-code reader then uses
has a high level of redundancy, with the data dispersed in several sophisticated digital image-processing techniques to decode the
locations throughout the symbology. This enables the bar code symbology. Reading rates of five symbols per second are typi-
lo be scanned correctly, even if a portion of the bar code has cal, at distances ranging from immediate contact to 36 inches
primed lightly or is missing altogether. Whether contracting away, depending on the size of the 2D code.
with a label manufacturer to print labels or printing the labels Plenty of choices for these devices exist, including Motor-
on-siie. specifying a symbology is necessary. The most popular ola/Symbol, Datalogic. Metrologie. Opticon. and Honeywell.
2D bar codes are Data Matrix and QR Code. among tjthers. Although ct)sts are falling rapidly, superior 2D
Specialized equipment is required to print 2D bar codes. still costs a bit more than other types of bar-code technology.
While they can be printed on laser or inkjet printers, neither is Yet, in terms of speed and accuracy, the investment is well
the best technology for producing specialty laboratory labels. worth the additional dollars. For example, these laser scanners
Because laser printers use heat and pressure for printing office have the capability to read traditional ID symboiogies as well
correspondence and similar business applications, they are 2D — so. medical facilities still using linear bar-code labels

32 September 2009 • MLO wvww.fnlo-online.com

 Inventory Management Software
2D S Y M B O L S InvMan - A cost effective supply chain soiufion
=40% of the lab budget is for reagents and supplies so the îime
is right to:
can make that investment if they need to replace current scan-
ners for any reason. • Control expenses and reduce reagent & supply wastage
As part of the initial stai1-up costs, consider investing in • Use F E more efficiently with lean processes
a wireless 2D scanner. This enables lab technicians to move • Track lot #s and exp. dates
unimpeded from computer to workbench to refrigeration • Automate counting of supplies with portable scanner
unit — -saving time and improving efficiency. For the ultimate • utilize bar code labels for positive identification
freedom in wireless scanning, check out the Bluetooth-enabled • Track supplies sent to draw stations, MO offices, etc.
2D scanners. • Automatically produce Purchase Orders
• Easily, accurately and immediately analyze purchase/use history
Other advantages for laboratories and hospitals are that
• Organize equipment maintenance and repair history
smaller bar codes mean .smaller labels engineered from chemi-
• Satisfy CAP GEN.61900
cal-resistant and cryogenic materials — both of which are costly
InvMan a powerful easy-to-use inventory management software system
and many of which are proprietary. Bar-coded labels are "safer"
for patients in terms of anonymity, accuracy, and elimination of /- See InvMan m action with a Live Web Demo <
human error. Handwritten labels can be difficult to read and/or
transcription errors on them have been commonplace —^even
catastrophic — in the past. With 2D bar-coded labels, such
mistakes virtually vanish from the workplace.
Additionally, lab technicians are freed from time-consuming
administrative chores. 2D symbols are omnidirectionally scan-
nable — upside down, backward or forward, and even diago-
nally — making them the ideal choice in a hectic or cramped wvtfw.covelab.com [email protected]
laboratot y environment. 2D bar codes have an added benefit in (888) 220-5688 (707) 938-3075
terms of labeling caps, microvials, microtiter plates, cryotubes.
cassettes, slides, and medical instruments with nominal "inva-
sion" of space and minimal obstruction to viewing contents. COVE
For the laboratory scientist engaged in complex processes
Laboratory Software
— such as aliquoting, precipitation, and purification of samples
— the 2D bar code can encode new data at every step of the
process and is backward traceable for historical-verification
purposes. Ll

Mary Hattie of Electronic Imaging Materials Inc. (EIMINCI is now working on the
company's newmonttilv e-mail newsletter which launches this month. Founded in 1987,
EiMINC \www.barcodE-iabels.con>) is headquartered m New Hampshire.
. .a major
Stressor, but
a necessity.

CAP'S bar-code campaign: We can help you

meet the voluntary

a good reminder . or government

requirements of any
accrediting organization.
• very day, millions of people
I rely on healthcare providers.
^m To remind all healthcare
professionals that what they Consultation
do every day impacts patient and guidance
lives, the CAP slogan, "Every is available for:
number is a life," is stamped Good Manufacturing Practices
onto white wristbands pictured here. Laboratories can
Good Tissue Practices
purchase quantities of the wristbands and posters by
downloading an order form from the CAP micro site: Preparation for accreditation

www.cap.org/apps/docs/proficiency_testing/EveryNumber/ Compliance and Vendor audits

index.html. Regulatory enforcement actions
Laboratory professionals know patients through the bar
Custom projects
code received with a requisition and through specimens
delivered to the lab. They see bar codes, results, and sta-
tistics rather than the faces of the patients they serve. The Let AABB Consulting AABB
bracelet reminds them that these numbers represent sons, CéNSULTING
daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and others.
^ ^ — •

[email protected] | -i-1.301.215.6497 | wwvif.aabb.org/consulting

www.mto-online.com
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