Maxell adds to RFID family

Maxell Corporation of America has launched the newest member of its RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) embedded test tube product family: a new test tube form factor featuring a removable bottom component that encapsulates an unprecedented rewriteable RFID chip, and thus presents significant cost savings to high volume diagnostic laboratories and clinical trial providers.

During the life cycle of the test tube, information regarding its contents - such as reagents, sample data, patient identification or other figures - is written onto the RFID chip and extracted for use as required. After processing, the data stored in the chip can either be erased or saved for archiving, while the larger test tube section is either disposed of or sterilised for re-use.

The system is designed for a standard test tube rack holding 96 test tubes, has a USB interface and can scan all of the tubes within 36 seconds. Maxell is targeting a five second read time in future releases, and is working with Kobe Bio Robotix of Japan, a leading test tube supplier, and Tsubakimoto Chain of Japan, a test tube archive system manufacturer, to bring the new test tubes to market.

The use of RFID also provides advantages over traditional identification methods, such as bar codes, as it includes enhanced security and the ability to read data without requiring direct line of sight. It is ideal for use in applications where a label-based bar code may be contaminated by environmental or testing conditions.

Maxell's RFID technology 'enhances labelling accuracy, lowers error rates and processing costs in laboratory automation, reduces data entry errors, ensures sample integrity, and supports chain of custody, archiving and electronic record keeping requirements (21 CFR Part 11) of clinical trials'.