SAMPLE MANAGEMENT GETTING THE MOST FROM 2D BARCODED TUBES IN THE LABORATORY ZIATH e-BOOK No. 2

1. Common 2D barcode scanning problems (and how to prevent them) Poor barcode contrast Tubes placed in incompatible racks Wrong barcode type Barcode printed too close to tube edge 2. Five ways Samples™ software helps you to avoid sample data storage problems 3. Push caps or screw caps? Five things to consider 4. How to get the best out of your Ziath scanner Sample Management eBook

1 COMMON 2D BARCODE SCANNING PROBLEMS (AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM) While 2D barcodes offer excellent all-round performance, from time to time scanning issues do happen. Here we highlight some of the most commonly encountered scanning issues – and how to avoid them. At Ziath, we think two-dimensional barcodes are pretty neat! Not only can they store more data than linear barcodes, but because they’re located at the bottom of the tube, they can be quickly scanned without taking samples out of the rack. Their 2D design also means they’re inherently more resistant to scanning problems. But while they...

Poor barcode contrast Whether we’re talking about bar service or barcode scanning, to get the results you want quickly it’s a good idea to stand out from the crowd. White on black (or black on white) gives the optimal colour contrast for 2D barcodes, and it’s a combination that is in common use. However, we have seen some pretty unusual variations! Light grey on dark grey, grey on silver, or even black barcodes printed directly onto a clear tube with no contrasting background at all – these combinations aren’t as effective at achieving a quick and easy scan. Although the algorithms we use in...

Barcodes covered in ice When you take a sample straight out of a minus 80 °C freezer, there is a good chance that it’s going to be covered in a fair amount of ice. This can often obstruct the 2D barcode and prevent it from scanning properly. But rather than changing your tubes to a costly alternative there’s a simple solution, which we highlight on the next page. To remove the ice, just use our cheap ‘sponge and alcohol’ technique – it works really well! Another common problem is "fogging" of the scanner glass as condensation forms on the glass which has been cooled by the application of cold...

Barcodes covered in ice (continued) 2D barcode readers are all optical devices – they need to be able to ‘see’ the barcodes on the bottom of the tubes, otherwise they won’t work. Any ice sitting on the bottom of your tubes is therefore going to be a problem. However, the ‘ice problem’ is simple to resolve with this cheap and easy to implement method, using some simple items that you will probably find in your laboratory – a small plastic storage box, some sponges and a bottle of alcohol. Put a sponge into the bottom of the storage box and then add alcohol. You don’t want the sponge to be swimming...

Tubes placed in incompatible racks Laboratory 2D-coded sample tubes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes – with more models entering the market every month. However, this can be a problem if the manufacturer does not provide a suitable rack for the tubes. If tubes are placed in racks that aren’t designed to hold them, barcodes can be obscured or held too high up in the rack. So if you are experimenting with a range of tubes from one manufacturer and racks from another, just check that the rack holes are wide enough for the scanner to read the whole of the barcode and that the barcode is not...

Wrong barcode type Historically, all 2D rack barcode scanners were designed to read Data Matrix barcodes. However, some manufacturers used to apply QR codes on their tubes, which cannot be read by these scanners. Whilst these barcodes may look similar, it’s important to recognise the subtle differences. Unlike Data Matrix barcodes, QR codes are usually larger and contain three distinct squares in the corners (check out our handy spotter’s guide below). MODULES Black and white squares represent the data 2D Data Matrix barcode FINDER BARS L-shaped frame that locates the code CLOCK PATTERN Dotted...

Barcode printed too close to tube edge Sometimes we all need a bit of space to work effectively, and this is certainly true of barcodes. In order to scan properly, all barcodes (be they linear or 2D Data Matrix barcodes) require a small amount of surrounding blank space so that the scanner knows where the code begins and ends. This ‘quiet zone’ also ensures scanners don’t mistake text or other markings on the tube or label for information. For Data Matrix barcodes, this white space should be at least the size of two ‘modules’ (the black and white pixels that make up the 2D grid). Barcodes that...

2 FIVE WAYS SAMPLES™ SOFTWARE HELPS YOU TO AVOID SAMPLE DATA STORAGE PROBLEMS Ziath’s SamplesTM software is packed with a host of useful features that make recording, managing, and recalling sample data incredibly convenient. As people who have worked at the bench, we understand how stressful laboratory life can be at times. Thankfully, keeping large sample inventories organised and ensuring sample information is stored securely and only available to authorised users, can be one less thing to worry about. SamplesTM software is packed with a host of useful features that make recording, managing,...

Mandatory data entry With so much data associated with laboratory samples (and so many other tasks to focus on in the lab), it can be easy to overlook crucial information when performing data entry. But when this data must be recalled several weeks, months, or years down the line, the absence of critical information, such as patient ID or expiry date, can require time-intensive sample re-analysis, an extensive search through old lab books, or even render a sample unusable. SampleTMs helps to avoid this problem by giving database administrators the option to make certain data fields mandatory,...