Even without considering the pandemic situation, it’s crucial that laboratories have the ability to test samples or work with substances that require proper labelling and the ability to trace materials every step of the way.
Medical labels are crucial in laboratories and hospitals, so they need to be reliable and allow people to identify, study and track everything, no matter what it is. Take a look at how GSM can help.
What is a Laboratory Label?
Laboratory labels are specialist labels that need to meet specific requirements, especially in the biotechnology, medical, agricultural, forensic and environmental industries.
Whether blood, pathogens, viruses, tissue samples or other substances, it’s vital that these labels are of the highest possible quality to ensure clear communication from start to finish and ensure that there are no errors during testing or analysis of the samples.
These laboratory labels must also have strong adhesives that can withstand the harsh conditions of storage and testing, not to mention cleaning, without degrading.
What Data do Laboratory Labels Have?
The labels have to be able to carry a certain amount of information on them, so it’s crucial they’re designed with that in mind as well. For instance, in the medical field, it’s important to have labels where you can add the date the sample was taken, the expiration date of any substances used, and the batch number of certain materials.
In addition, laboratory labels will most certainly have barcodes since this allows communication with digital systems and lets people store a considerable amount of data that wouldn’t, otherwise, fit into the physical label.
The contents of laboratory labels can change depending on your needs, as they’re incredibly versatile and suitable for a range of applications.
The Importance of Durability
We’ve touched on this above, but it’s absolutely imperative that laboratory labels can withstand harsh environments, which can range from cold and high temperatures to chemicals and cleaning solutions. In addition, the nature of the products used in laboratories is varied, so labels have to be long-lasting under several different conditions as well.
Losing an external label and being unable to know what’s in a test tube or how long ago the sample was taken, for instance, is something that labs want to avoid at all costs, whether in the medical industry or other sectors.
So, if you work in any of these industries, you’ll want to choose labels that can go on blood bags, tubules, and more and which will last for as long as you need them to. This way, you can always trust the samples you’re working with.
Environments the Labels Need to Survive In
Whether you’re looking for medical labels or chemical-resistant labels, you know just how important it is to get products that can tolerate a lot, as we’ve seen above. This means that laboratory labels, which must be made of specialist materials, need to:
- Handle heat and cold
- Survive cleaning and other harsh products
- Withstand cryogenic temperatures
- Be durable even when placed in centrifuges
- Allow for crucial data to be added on
- Be tamper-proof
- Have a strong adhesive that won’t come off no matter where it’s placed or how low or high the temperature is
- Be able to be stored in substances like nitrogen or solvents
- Last for a long time even with heavy usage (and be legible for as long as you need it)
- And more
Thankfully, you don’t have to go far to find the specialist labels you need for your laboratory. At GSM, we’re not just barcode systems providers; we also supply businesses with the barcoding and labels they need to run their day-to-day successfully.
How Can GSM Help?
We have an experienced team on hand ready to help and answer any questions you may have about our products – we can also help you choose the suitable labels for your specific business as we consider the processes and testing they’ll be used for.
So, let us know the sample size you’re working with, the storage conditions the labels will be kept in, the size of the container, the end applications, and any other details you believe relevant, and we’ll do the rest.
You can also browse our website to see our label and barcoding solutions for yourself. We offer:
- Cryogenic laboratory labels (capable of being used in settings down to -196°C)
- Chemical resistant laboratory labels (which can withstand acetone, toluene, xylene, and more)
- High-temperature resistant labels (such as temperatures up to 150°C), etc.
This means we can confidently meet all your requirements.
If you’re unsure what will work best for you, we also offer free label samples, so why not give them a try and experiment with different labels until you find the right one for your particular situation? GSM also provides barcode label software, barcode printers and asset tracking systems as we’re a one-stop shop for all your labelling needs.
Get in touch with us for more information.
