Healthcare Barcoding — Safe Patient and Sample Identification

What Is Healthcare Barcoding?

Healthcare barcoding is the application of automatic identification technologies — 1D barcodes, 2D/QR codes, and RFID — for the positive identification of patients, biological specimens, medications, and supplies in healthcare settings. Its primary goal is to eliminate identification errors that can compromise patient safety.

In the clinical laboratory, the barcode on a specimen tube links the sample to the patient and ordered tests, virtually eliminating specimen misidentification errors. This traceability spans from sample collection through result delivery, covering every stage of the analytical process.

In nursing, Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) verifies the "five rights": right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time. HIMSS promotes barcoding as an essential component of patient safety.

Why It Matters in Healthcare

• Patient safety: Eliminates sample and patient identification errors, one of the leading causes of adverse events.
• Complete traceability: Enables tracking of every specimen, medication, or supply from origin to final destination.
• Operational efficiency: Automates previously manual registration processes, reducing time and transcription errors.
• Analyzer integration: Laboratory analyzers read barcodes to automatically identify tests to be performed.
• Inventory management: In hospital logistics, barcodes optimize stock control and the supply chain.

How Davix Relates to Healthcare Barcoding

• The Davix LIS generates barcode labels for specimens, enabling automated sample tracking from collection through analysis and result delivery.
• It integrates with barcode readers and analyzers that support automatic sample reading.
• The hospital logistics module uses barcodes for inventory control and supply traceability.
• It supports multiple barcode formats (1D, 2D, QR) according to each process's requirements.

Improve patient safety with Davix's automated identification. Request a demo to explore our barcoding solutions.