To Print or Not to Print: That is the question.

The decision as to whether to print your labels in the lab or buy them printed from a label printing company is going to be based on label content, economics, and label durability.

Label Content
The frosted end of a slide does not allow for a large label. It is also important to note that placement accuracy affects the size. Screening devices and microscopes do not tolerate labels folded around or hanging off the edge of a slide. The label should fit cleanly within the frosted space.

Certain items on the label should be bigger than others. If you are going to make use of a bar code, it should be tall enough to be scanned easily. The width of the bar code will be driven by the needs of scanning equipment to be used as well as the data content, bar code type chosen and the white space that is needed around the code.

If you need to quickly locate a slide, then the key human readable text should be of reasonable size. All other information might be quite small if it will be referenced infrequently.

The printed labels on the left show two different label sizes and formats of labels. Your administrator selects label size and format. You can tell both labels are the result of in-lab printing because they include patient and test specific data. Good printing software like BarTender will give you the ability to choose from a variety of sizes and label formats so you can meet your lab's particular information needs.

Label layout and design can improve organization of sample preparation. The layout on the right provides a label for a test requisition or other paperwork. Sometimes requisition labels are bar coded to facilitate optical storage of the paper documents.Printing software should allow you to print a flexible number of slide labels for each test. This feature will bring you better organization and less waste. If your labels need to include extensive patient specific data you cannot specify when you buy the labels, you will need to print them yourself.

Economics
Small usage labs processing 10,000 samples or less per year should consider buying printed labels. Ordering labels periodically makes it simple. Larger usage labs have an easier time justifying printing equipment investment. They save money due to benefits of patient specific information on the label.

Good Label Durability
Many laboratories print their own labels using xylene resistant labels and ribbons. It is best to avoid touching the surface of the label while it's wet with xylene so as to avoid any smudging of the print. Once the xylene dries the print is very durable.

Ultimate Label Durability

Some laboratories buy labels that are already printed. The most durable labels are protected with a clear plastic film. These labels are the most resistant to chemicals. (Printing these labels in the lab is not generally practical due to equipment size, cost and complexity.  If you feel you should consider this anyway, consult EIMINC.) Purchasing printed labels allows you an amazing amount of design flexibility. Colors can be used to easily differentiate labels. Printed labels with a flap of protective film can be hand written (see the example at left) and hand laminated. This method provides the ultimate in durability and the ability to record some patient-specific data on the label.

There do exist methods for creating labels in the lab which are protected with a clear plastic film, but they tend to be labor intensive. For example, labels with an attached protective film are available. You can print on the labels and fold the protective film over the label to complete the process. The final label can have specific information and a bar code that is driven from your own system.   Please contact the label experts at EIMINC for more details.