Laboratory labels – A quick guide to print and apply them

Examples of the contents of a laboratory label:

• Date of manufacture
• Expiration date
• Batch number
• EAN – or barcodes
• Encrypted patient data
• Sampling data
• Further

Reliable marking with a thermal transfer printer

Labels can be printed most reliably with a thermal transfer printer.

Handwritten marking has some disadvantages. For example, writing on a sample with a standard pen is usually difficult to read, may blur, is not resistant to chemicals and therefore very unreliable.

If labels are printed with a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer ribbon required for this is also designed for the extreme conditions and forms a resistant unit with the label against all strains.

Advantages of thermal transfer printing in laboratories:

• Small, still readable fonts are possible
• More information in the smallest space
• Typeface does not fade
• Typeface does not blur
• High durability under the most extreme conditions
• Easy to read
• Barcode and EAN codes can be printed without problems

Laboratory labels have to withstand a lot. As a result, these special labels consist of a selected composition of face material and adhesive. Above all, they must have the following properties:

• Reliably map results and data

• Labeling of patient samples and substances

• High durability

• Migration safety (the adhesive must not migrate into the container as the result of the contents could be distorted)

• Constant adhesive conduction at very low temperatures (e.g. kyrogenic applications)

• Constant adhesive performance at maximum temperatures (e.g. cleaning process or sterilization in autoclave)

• Resistance to extreme conditions

• Storage in liquid nitrogen

• Storage in chemicals

• Storage in solvents

• Tamper-proof

• Long legibility of the printed image, even after heavy use

• Durable on vessels with very small diameter (erection forces are eliminated)

• Longevity

• Adhere reliably to containers with a volume of 1-100 ml or a diameter of 7-50 mm

Small cylindrical containers with a diameter of less than 23 mm do not make it easy to keep labels on the base. Due to the small container diameter, special materials and adhesives are required. This is because there is a risk that the label will peel off at the edges or even come off because of its own surface tension.

This is made more difficult for vessels with a diameter of less than 15 mm (e.g. syringes, ampoules, pens, vials, test tubes). Especially soft label materials can be used as a solution.

Blood and plasma bags are stored in refrigerators and freezers. Some important regulations have to be observed in bag labeling. This naturally requires special care and expertise.

Labels are used for the marking of blood and plasma bags, providing the desired safety and complying with regulatory requirements. Labels used for the marking of blood bags comply with FDA and European food regulations and are approved by the ISEGA test institute according to the DIN ISO 3826 standard for “Plastic Collapsible Containers for Human Blood and Blood Components”.

Blood, stem cell, and tissue samples are preserved at ultra-low temperatures reaching as low as −196 °C to ensure long-term stability and integrity.

Each sample is identified with a durable label containing critical data. The label is securely applied to the container and engineered to meet the highest standards: strong adhesion at room temperature and reliable performance in liquid nitrogen and harsh freezing environments.

In pharmacies, clinics and hospitals, RFID labeling technology can improve inventory management. RFID labels have a unique digital identity that can be tracked, verified and traced online throughout the supply chain.

Especially in the medical and pharmaceutical sector, finding the right label material is of enormous importance.

As a result, a previous analysis is needed to find the right label. As a full-range supplier for industrial labelling, Weber Marking Systems can provide you with expert advice and carry out a precise analysis.