How to automate sample tracking in the laboratory?

The solution we developed for our customer consists of 3 elements.

- Tracking and identification technology:

Due to the size of the samples, their number and the process of moving them, we chose to equip the samples with RFID chips. RFID is a wireless system made up of two components: tags and readers. The reader is a device equipped with one or more antennae which emit radio waves and receive signals back from the RFID tag. We replace their basic tags with RFID tags (of the same size) that enable them to be read automatically. RFID offers a number of advantages, such as the ability to scan without seeing the tags, and fast multiple readings (81 samples in 20 seconds).

- A mobile solution for operational action:

We have equipped the departments with an Android PDA application. Users use it to carry out their daily actions (transfer, destruction, aliquoting ....). The application performs the various checks required, such as the correct location of the source, the correct temperature of the refrigerator, etc., and sends all the information to a database (who, when, what, from where to where...).

- A back-office solution:

All information from the field is displayed and accessible to everyone at any time. The back-office replaces logbooks and adds new functionalities (alerts, monitoring and reporting). If a user needs information on a sample, they can get it in seconds. Logbooks no longer need to be archived.