ISBT Labels: The Use of ISBT 128 Labels in World Healthcare Operations
ISBT 128, developed by the International Society of Blood Transfusion, is a worldwide standard for identifying, labeling, and transferring information about medical products of human origin (e.g., blood, cell cultures, tissue samples, milk samples, organs, etc.) across international borders and throughout various healthcare systems around the world in a highly accurate, efficient manner.
The standard for ISBT labels was created to ensure that the highest levels of accuracy, safety, and efficiency were achieved for the maximum benefit of patients, donors from whom they receive medical support, and facilities that are ISBT licensed the world over. In the absence of the ISBT 128 system, the quality of products of human origin dispensed around the globe could deteriorate significantly, and even lead to avoidable infections and organ transplant rejections.
In the Absence of ISBT Labels
The absence of ISBT labels on medical products of human origin can create a significant health risk for the patients and laboratory workers who receive the products in question. There are various adverse conditions that could occur during the transportation of the products that ISBT labels help to prevent, such as overheating, storage at temperatures that are too low, exposure to biological contaminants in lab settings, and, above all, being used for the wrong purpose.
ISBT labels help prevent these situations by going beyond merely identifying the product in question and encoding information about the product in a fashion that facilitates the transfer of the information between one hospital computer system and another in a manner that is clear, succinct, well-organized, and unambiguous concerning the origin of the product, its destination, how long it has spent in transit, for what purpose it is to be used, for whom it will be used, etc.
Why ISBT Labels are Needed
Unlike some types of medical labels, ISBT labels serve a highly specific function: They are designed to provide an elite level of identification for the products involved, and provide encoded digital information that allows the products to move through hospital processing systems as expediently as possible. Considering that the products are perishable in nature, this aspect of ISBT labels plays a role in helping to save the lives of those who critically need the products.
Where to Find ISBT Labels
Shamrock Labels carriers a wide selection of ISBT 128 labels that are designed to meet the requirements of various hospital processing systems around the globe. If your healthcare facility deals with sending or receiving products that require ISBT 128 labels, we can supply you with ready-made products that meet your needs, or create customized products to meet a unique set of needs that are established by your facility or the facility to which you will send the product.
For assistance selecting ISBT labels that meet the needs of your facility and the facilities with which it does business, call us today at (800) 323-0249, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to supplying you with ISBT 128 labels that meet your labeling needs!