How to Improve the Efficiency of Laboratory Sample Sampling and Receiving

2026-02-03 11:16:06

　　Application Background

　　To ensure production quality, manufacturing enterprises send a large number of samples to the analysis department for testing every day during the production process. This involves arduous sample sampling and receiving tasks. The large number of samples not only poses challenges to sampling and receiving work but also easily leads to errors. Therefore, in laboratory inspection and testing work, it is crucial to take effective measures to improve the efficiency and accuracy of sampling and sample receiving.

　　Current Situation

　　At present, most laboratories are facing a shortage of personnel, resulting in each employee's workload reaching a saturated state. The daily sample collection and receiving tasks are heavy, so special personnel need to be assigned to regularly verify the sampling and sample receiving work. Currently, laboratories adopt the method of manual one-by-one verification to complete this task, which not only consumes a great deal of manpower and time but also easily leads to operational errors and omissions.

　　Solution

　　There is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology available on the market. By using this technology, corresponding equipment can be configured, including RFID electronic tags and RFID reading devices. This can avoid the cumbersome process of manual one-by-one verification. It is only necessary to attach corresponding electronic tags to specific sampling tools. Within a designated area, these tools can be automatically identified and connected to the information system, thereby solving the problem of manual one-by-one verification.

　　Practical Application

　　·Attach RFID electronic tags to all existing sampling tools. The electronic tags contain location information and sample information, which are associated with actual offline sampling points. Corresponding sampling point data can be maintained in the system, and the sampling point data in the system can be associated with the corresponding RFID cards to realize one card per sampling point. Modifications and configurations can be made later.

　　·After the sampling task is issued in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), the system will automatically remind the relevant sampling personnel. The sampling personnel check the sampling task and prepare the sampling tools. The steps are as follows: place the sampling tools with RFID electronic tags in the designated area, then the RFID reading device automatically reads the location information of the tags, and automatically marks whether the sampling tools for the sampling task are prepared in the system. It also automatically and in real-time displays the total number of samples to be sampled, the number of prepared sampling tools, and the number of unprepared sampling tools, which can remind the sampling personnel whether the prepared sampling tools are complete and accurate. After confirming that the sampling tools are correct, the sampling personnel will carry the sampling tools to the sampling site.

　　·Upon arrival at the sampling site, hand over the sampling tools to the on-site equipment personnel. The equipment personnel confirm and hand over the sampling tools and the on-site sampling quantity through the RFID reading device.

　　·After the completion of sampling, the sample receiving personnel place the received sampling tools in the designated RFID identification area. The RFID reading device will automatically read the RFID signals. After the reading is completed, the received samples are automatically confirmed and received in the system, thereby greatly reducing the work of sample receivers in the links of sample confirmation and sample receiving.

　　Advantages of Using RFID

　　·Contactless Reading

　　The RFID system automatically identifies target objects through radio frequency signals, eliminating the need for manual scanning or contact reading like barcodes, which reduces manual workload. This contactless feature also enables it to work in harsh environments. For example, in dusty, dirty, or humid environments, communication between tags and readers can still proceed normally. This advantage makes it suitable for use in chemical production environments while maintaining stability.

　　·Fast Batch Reading

　　RFID readers can read multiple tags simultaneously. During sampling or sample receiving, place the sampling tools filled with samples in the designated area, and all sample tags can be read at one time. In contrast, barcode technology requires scanning one by one, which significantly improves the speed of operations such as sampling and sample receiving.

　　·Long-Distance Reading

　　Depending on the frequency band and power, the reading distance of RFID can range from a few centimeters to tens of meters. At this time, the laboratory does not need to provide a separate specific room for sample receiving work; it only needs to be within the reading range, which improves the resource utilization rate of the laboratory's rooms.

　　·High Durability

　　RFID tags usually have good performance such as wear resistance and chemical corrosion resistance. In chemical production environments, RFID tags can withstand harsh conditions such as high temperatures and oil contamination, maintaining the integrity of the tags throughout the entire production process. This advantage ensures that RFID can be applied to most environments in the factory area, without worrying about damage caused by on-site environmental issues during use. It has a wide range of applications and high reusability.

　　·Flexible Tag Shapes and Sizes

　　RFID tags can be made into various shapes and sizes to meet the requirements of different sampling tools and on-site environments.

　　·Reduce Labor Costs

　　Due to its characteristics of fast reading and contactless operation, manual operations can be reduced in links such as sampling management and sample receiving, thereby lowering labor costs.

　　·Long-Term Cost Advantage

　　Although the initial investment in RFID tags and readers may be relatively high, in the long run, the advantages such as improved efficiency and reduced errors can lower the overall actual costs caused by manual operations in practical work.

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