Lab labels are applied to vials, tubes, plastic bags, straws, plates, slides, ampoules and any other labware that is used to carry and store lab samples (blood, urine, any research material etc.). They are used to convey different kinds of information: information about the patient, name of the labware content, expiration date, lot number, storage requirements, warnings and precautionary measures, emergency phone number, etc.
Since labware can often be very small, sometimes there is no space to print all this information on a tiny label. That is why many lab labels have a barcode printed on them which carries all the necessary data. Aside from enabling all the information to fit on a tiny label, the use of barcodes also minimizes the possibility of making errors.
Each lab label needs to have an accompanying Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) – a bulletin that contains detailed safety information and instructions on the specific labware content. Also, the lab label needs to comply with all the Environmental Protection Agency’s and Occupational Safety and Health Organization’s regulations on lab labeling; specifically, it is important to indicate the presence of hazardous chemicals in the labware, if there are any, and all lab users should be able to easily identify the label.
Since lab labels are subjected to very harsh conditions and carry potentially dangerous substances, they need to be extremely durable. The Lab Labels Pros will now explain all there is to know about obtaining custom or pre-printed lab labels that are guaranteed to flawlessly serve their purpose.
