Extremely Durable Lab Identification Labels 

Brady Corporation R&D teams developed extremely durable and on-site printable identification labels for laboratory samples, engineered to stay attached when frozen with liquid nitrogen or heated in an autoclave. The ink used to print these labels can resist chemicals typically used in laboratories to ensure their legibility and to avoid sample loss.

Identifying samples for life in laboratories is not easy. “Samples are stored at -196°C, they are heated in autoclaves and any laboratory has a number of chemicals that could easily damage any regular label and render it illegible”, says Tugba Sert, EMEA Product Manager at Brady. “When samples are no longer identifiable, they become unusable for further scientific research. The average cost of losing one sample has been calculated, in a clinical lab setting, at €550. With all of the above arguments in mind, Brady scientists and engineers successfully set out to discover new label constructions to ensure sample traceability for life.”

“Brady laboratory labels resist the challenging conditions in laboratories, and withstand a range of chemicals commonly used in laboratories. In the right conditions, these engineered label constructions can even be applied to already frozen samples. Brady also created user friendly label formats for its specifically developed lab label constructions to easily identify vials, tubes, slides, straws and tissue cassettes.”

“Brady also supplies easy to use printing systems with label wizards and built-in symbol libraries to accurately and swiftly label any sample. The printers barcode capability ensures that all necessary information can be attached to the sample itself, on a label that stays in place and saves researchers from a potentially sticky situation.”

Brady researchers have created a white paper explaining their point of view and outlining any governmental and regulatory requirements regarding sample traceability. Contact Brady via email  for the white paper ‘Sample Certainty’ or for technical data sheets on Brady’s laboratory labels.