Radio-Frequency Tags Cut Specimen Bottle Errors

HealthDay, October, 2008 by Kevin McKeever

The risk and number of errors during biopsy analysis can be drastically reduced by instituting labeling systems for specimen bottles, a new study says.

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., which conducted the study, is proposing that busy labs add radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to track and automate identification of biopsy specimens taken during gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

RFID tags, which are commonly such used in libraries or on passports, can be applied to or incorporated into an object so that it can be identified by using radio waves. This is its first application to track specimens in a health-care setting.

The study and proposal were expected to be presented Tuesday at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting, in...