Beckman Coulter Navios, Instructions For Use Manual

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773232AH
A-4
Bar-code Specifications
Bar-code Error Rate
Bar-code Error Rate
A misread label can cause one sample ID to be read as another sample ID. Whenever possible use a
bar-code symbology and configuration choices that provide the most accurate bar-code reading.
The quality of the bar-code symbol and the label is important for accurate reading. To get the
highest possible accuracy only use labels that meet all the specifications described for labels and
symbols. Deviations from these specifications make the bar code more difficult to read and allow for
a possible increase in the error rate.
The symbology and the configurable parameters that the laboratory selects have an effect on the
error rate. Certain features of the symbologies and the selections made by the laboratory have an
important effect on the accuracy of the bar-code reading system. In general:
•
Code 128 and Code 39 are more accurate and have lower error rates than Codabar or Interleaved
2-of-5.
•
CLSI recommends Code 128 because of its accuracy, compact form, and self-checking
capabilities.
3 3
•
A checksum greatly increases accuracy. Use a checksum with Interleaved 2-of-5 and Codabar
because they are less accurate symbologies.
•
Select the fixed length option, if available, because it is more accurate than the variable length
option.
•
To keep label and printing flaws to a minimum, use a narrow element of more than 0.25 mm
(0.010 in.).
Beckman Coulter recommends the use of:
• Code 128
• Checksum for all other symbologies
• Fixed length code symbols
• Narrow bar sizes of 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) minimum.
Bar-code Symbologies
Beckman Coulter instruments use four bar-code symbologies for specimen identification, see
Table A.1 .Within the given specifications, the MCL reader and the optional handheld bar-code
reader automatically distinguish the following bar codes: