In a joint venture, pharmaceutical label producer Schreiner MediPharm and Schott Pharma are taking syringe labelling to the digital level. The RFID labels presented in California enable improved inventory management and traceability of medicines.
Between Schreiner MediPharm and Schott Pharma, a manufacturer of storage and delivery systems for medicines, have been partners for several years. The aim is to develop new concepts that add value-added functions to prefilled syringes. At the PDA Universe of Pre-Filled Syringes and Injection Devices Conference in California, the two companies presented a newly developed, harmonised solution for equipping pre-filled syringes with RFID for the first time. The combination of syringe and smart label opens up opportunities to optimise everyday hospital life, among other things.
Until now, the partnership between the two companies has primarily focused on equipping COC syringes with analogue function labels. Now, however, the focus is on the digitalisation of prefilled syringes. The special feature of the new RFID labels: the combination of labelling the syringe with its unique digital identity. This enables optimised processes in inventory management in the hospital and in patient care and documentation, as well as the identification of medication and medical devices. In addition, a digital first-opening indication is possible to ensure the integrity of the syringe.
In order to successfully implement this innovation and ensure flawless RFID functionality in terms of good performance and sufficient range, various properties of the prefilled syringe must be taken into account. In addition to the material, such as COC, PP or glass, which can influence the range and interference-free reading of the tag, the size and diameter of the syringes also play a decisive roleThe smaller the syringe, the less space for product labelling and integration of the RFID chip. And the smaller the tag, the shorter its range usually is. With small syringe diameters in particular, the curvature can also have an impact on performance.
The dielectric properties of the drugs contained also play a role. Water-based active ingredients in particular can have a negative impact on the sparking properties of the tag. This requires precise positioning of the RFID label or the integrated inlay according to the liquid and the fill level. In addition, special data standards for identification and tracking at unit level, such as UnitVisID or GS1, must be taken into account, which enable all stakeholders involved to interpret and use the data, as well as integration into the respective infrastructure.
Schreiner MediPharm and Schott Pharma each customise the solution to meet specific customer requirements, to ensure optimum functionality from production to end use. This helps to increase product safety and avoid possible medication errors.
Source: Schneider MediPharm
