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To Print or
Not to Print: That is the question.
The decision as to whether to print your labels in
house or buy them printed from a label printing company is going to be based on label content,
economics, and label durability.
Label Content
A small sample does not allow for a large label. It is also important to note that
placement accuracy affects the size. If viewing the sample is needed, then you will want to choose a label size that does not completely
cover the sample.
| Items
to consider adding to your labels |
| Date |
| Facility Name |
| Storage Location |
| Sequencing |
Certain items on the label should be bigger than
others. If you are going to make extensive 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
sample,
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 label on the left shows one label size and
format. Your administrator selects label size and format. You can tell that
this example
label is the result of in-lab printing because it includes the date. 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. The
layout on the right provides 4 labels in a set. You might choose to use a label for a
paper document.  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 data
that you cannot specify when you buy the labels, you will need to print them yourself.
Economics
Small usage facilities processing 2000 vials or less per year should consider buying
printed labels. Ordering labels periodically makes it simple. Larger usage facilities have
an easier time justifying printing equipment investment. They save money due to benefits
of variable data on the label.
Label Performance
Many of the materials available can be configured for printing in your facility as well as
coming to you printed on a roll.
Call our label experts to learn more about buying printed
labels or blank label to print in your facility.
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