RFID Tracks Consumables in Genetic Analyzers

By tracking the consumables with RFID, the researchers and lab technicians have a clear understanding of the quantity of polymer and buffer they have used, as well as the expiration dates of the glass capillaries, polymer and buffer. What's more, they can also receive an alert if there is insufficient buffer and polymer for a test they are about to conduct.

Polymers come in plastic pouches, and buffers are stored in plastic containers. Attached to each pouch or container is a Texas Instruments 13.56 MHz RFID tag complying with the ISO 15693 standard. The tag stores up to 256 bytes of data regarding the consumable product, such as its lot number, expiration date and quantity.

Pouch

Each array of glass capillaries is also fitted with a similar RFID tag. When a pouch, container or capillary array is inserted into the analyzer, an RFID interrogator (each machine contains three, manufactured by Hitachi) captures the RFID label's unique ID number, as well as other descriptive data. That information is then sent via an Ethernet connection to a PC that Applied Biosystems provides with the analyzer. The Applied Biosystems software on the PC receives that data and displays it on the monitor. The user then proceeds to select the desired type of testing, and the results of the genetic test will later be uploaded to the software.

Cathode buffer

When the test is conducted, information pertaining to how much of a specific consumable will be used is written to the pouch or container, which remains inside the machine throughout testing. In that way, if a pouch or container is used for another test, or is removed and later reinserted into the genetic analyzer at a future time, the software has an updated report regarding the remaining quantity of that substance, and again displays that data for the user. Each time a test is performed, the pouch's or container's RFID tag is updated.

When consumables need to be replaced, a warning alert is displayed on the PC monitor. Most capillary arrays, for instance, can be used for approximately 160 injections before they must be replaced. RFID provides convenience and reduces the need for retests because of insufficient consumable supply.

"This is an ease-of-use benefit," Felton says, noting that it saves the user time previously spent manually tracking the consumables' lifespan. "It's more cost-effective, and there is less manual error," he states. Without an accurate record, analyzer users may have to redo a time-consuming test conducted with insufficient consumables.