Tips for Choosing the Right Printer for Lab
In R＆D and clinical labs, researchers need to label tubes, samples, and specimens to keep things organized, meet regulations, and manage inventory efficiently. The right lab label printer will help you eliminate time-consuming, manual tasks like handwritten labeling, while also producing professional and durable specimen and tube labels.
This post will guide you on how to choose the right barcode label printer for your lab, ensuring that your labeling processes are streamlined and efficient.
Understand Your Lab’s Needs
Every lab is unique. Start by assessing your specific lab labeling needs, such as:
● Patient Sample Labeling
● Medication and Specimen Labeling
● Compliance and Regulatory Labeling
● Inventory and Asset Management Labeling
For example, when labeling biological samples like blood, urine, and tissue specimens, lab staff might need to print small tube and vial labels or Formalin-filled container tags with details like sample ID, specimen type, and collection date. These labels must withstand harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures, chemicals, and long-term storage.
However, lab inventory management often uses barcode technology for items like freezers, shelves, and solvents. These labels should include tracking numbers, stock codes, and expiration dates. Barcodes streamline the tracking and organization of supplies, equipment, reagents, and other essential items in the lab.
Determine Label Types
After understanding your lab labeling needs, you need to identify the appropriate label materials and sizes.
For lab specimen, sample, and chemical labels, common materials include polyester (PET) and polypropylene (PP). These materials are known for their ability to withstand various challenging conditions, such as exposure to solvents, extreme temperatures, and moisture.
For instance, labs frequently use cryogenic labels made of polypropylene to label samples stored at extremely low temperatures.
These labels are designed to remain intact in cryogenic storage, such as freezers and liquid nitrogen (as low as -196°C/-321°F), and resist alcohol wiping and deep-freeze conditions (-80°C). They are ideal for cryovials, tubes, cryo-boxes, freezer boxes, and many other cryo-containers.
Common shapes for laboratory adhesive labels include circles and squares, with common widths ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 inches. These labels can be affixed to sample specimens, various containers, equipment, and instruments, and they are typically available in white and transparent colors.
Depending on what you need to label, such as test tube samples, incubators, freezers, or chemical reagent bottles, select the right label material and size, and make sure your printer is compatible with them.
Determine the Type of Lab Label Printer
The common types of printers for labeling lab samples, specimens, and inventory are as follows:
1. Thermal Transfer Label Printer
This is one of the most widely used types of lab label printers. It works by transferring ink from a ribbon onto the label material, creating very durable, long-lasting prints.
The thermal transfer label printer can print on various materials, including PP and PET labels. In labs, they are often used for printing alcohol and chemical-resistant GHS labels, durable patient sample and specimen labels, and slide labels and more.
2. Direct Thermal Label Printer
Direct thermal label printers are ideal for producing short-term labels without the need for ribbons. For instance, they are excellent for printing temporary inventory labels, shipping labels, and lab sample tracking labels that are used in controlled environments.
Print Resolution
High-resolution label printers are essential for producing clear and readable labels, especially for patient sample and specimen labels that include small barcodes. For such cases, look for a label printer with a resolution of at least 300 dpi.
Print Speed and Volume
Consider the print speed and volume capabilities of the printer. For labs with high labeling demands, a fast printer that can handle large volumes without frequent maintenance is ideal.
Durability
● Build Quality: Opt for a printer built to withstand the lab environment, especially if it will be used in harsh conditions.
● Brand Reputation: Consider established brands known for reliability and support.
Connectivity Options
Modern lab environments benefit from printers with versatile connectivity options. Look for printers with USB, Ethernet, and wireless capabilities to ensure seamless integration with your lab’s existing systems.
For example, some research or clinical labs might use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity with tablets to provide an even more convenient printing experience.
User-Friendly Features
● User Interface: A printer with an intuitive interface and easy setup can significantly reduce training time and operational issues. A straightforward, user-friendly design ensures that lab personnel can quickly learn how to use the printer and troubleshoot any basic issues that arise, enhancing overall productivity.
● Software Compatibility: Ensure that the printer software is compatible with your lab’s systems. The software should allow for easy design and management of labels, integrating seamlessly with existing lab databases and information management systems.
Cost and Maintenance
● Initial Cost: Balance the upfront cost with the features and benefits provided. Don’t blindly go for high-priced products; instead, select one that meets your actual needs.
● Operational Costs: Consider the cost of label rolls or ribbons, and maintenance needs.
Support and Warranty
● Technical Support: Technical Support: Ensure the manufacturer provides reliable customer support and technical assistance. Quick access to help via phone, email, or live chat can minimize downtime and keep lab operations running smoothly.
● Warranty: A comprehensive warranty offers peace of mind by covering potential issues and ensuring reliable support.
Highly Recommended iDPRT Barcode Label Printers for Lab
1. Lab Tube Label Printer iDPRT iE2X
The iDPRT iE2X is a 2-inch thermal transfer barcode printer, ideal for printing small specimen and sample labels, such as those for blood, urine tubes, vials, blood tubes, centrifuge tubes, cryovials, and microscope slides.
This desktop barcode printer offers 203 and 300 dpi options, ensuring precise printing of various barcodes, QR codes, small texts, graphics, and logos. Its compact size makes it highly practical for lab use.
2. Lab Inventory Label Printer iDPRT iT4P
The iDPRT iT4P is a high-performance 4-inch thermal transfer barcode printer with a display screen. It supports label widths ranging from 1 inch (25.4 mm) to 4.65 inches (118 mm) and has a printing speed of 8 ips (203 dpi). This versatile and fast printer is perfect for lab use, capable of printing:
● Cryogenic barcode labels.
● Cover-up labels for frozen vials and tubes.
● GHS chemical labels for bottles, flasks, and other hazardous chemical containers.
● Barcode labels for equipment and other assets.
● Safety and warning labels.
The iDPRT iT4P has a user-friendly control panel and a 3.5-inch color touch LCD, making operation more convenient.
Both of these lab label printers come with BarTender software for easy label design and barcode generation. The software supports numerous barcode symbologies and integrates with databases, ERP systems, and other software for automated barcode generation and data accuracy.
Additionally, these printers can be equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing lab staff to select the most convenient printing method.
Ready to find the perfect printer for your lab? Contact us for personalized advice and recommendations. Check out our additional resources and product pages for more information.
