[Taxacom] printing labels for -80C freezer vials‏ - responses

[Peter Oboyski]

Hi all,

 

I had several
very helpful responses regarding barcodes for various uses and thought others
would appreciate the information specific to freezer specimens. This is NOT a
review of barcode technology, symbologies, and general archival label issues. I
am still interested in hearing others’ experiences and advice.

 

Key
concepts to consider:

Size of
barcodes – small, high density, 2D codes (eg. Datamatrix, QR code)

Barcode
reader – able to read small, HD, 2D (and other/older) codes

Archival
sticky paper – must be able to stick to frozen vials in -80C freezer / liquid
nitrogen

Archival
printing –  printed codes/text need to
stand up to -80C and some abrasion

 

Where one
puts the barcodes is important. Some prefer a human readable code on the lid,
others prefer barcodes on the lid for fast processing. Labels added along the
length of the vial may have both. Barcodes small enough to fit on the lid will
likely require special printing and special readers for the high density, small
codes. For “temporary” storage, laser (or ink jet) printed codes on lab-quality
freezer labels is adequate, but will probably not survive long-term or archival
usage. Heat transfer labels appear to be the best, but there are a lot of
variations on heat-transfer printing (be sure you’ve got the right kind). One
can buy his/her own system or order preprinted labels. Here are some responses.
I have omitted the names of the individuals, but I am sure they will respond if
others ask follow up questions.  Responses
represent personal experiences and not necessarily endorsement for any
particular company.

 

Thanks to
all who responded.



 



 

We're
barcoding all our samples in the manner you described. A thermal transfer
printer with good labels is a must - laser printer won't work, and I suggest
you completely forget the inkjet - neither will print well on synthetic labels,
and you don't want to use paper labels in a freezer. You can get a basic
thermal transfer printer quite cheaply - we have a Zebra TLP 2844 and it works
great. If you want to print really small barcodes, though, you'll need a
high-resolution printer. We use 5×5 mm datamatrix barcodes to label 0.2 ml
Eppendorf tubes on the lid, and we had barcodes professionally printed at a
labeling shop. A printer that is able to do that will typically set you back a
couple of 1000€. You also need a special reader for such small barcodes,
although we're successfully using a normal cheap A4 paper scanner to scan
batches of barcodes (we're doing genetics, and we're scanning arrangements of
0.2 tubes prepared for pipetting on 96-well plates) and then automatically
recognize barcodes from scanned images using barcode reading software. 

 



As for labels, we're using Z Ultimate and Z-Xtreme from
Zebra.They are synthetic labels and can survive almost anything. We didn't put
them on -80, though, although the labeling shop says they should be ok. http://www.zebra.com/us/en/products-services/supplies/labels-tags.html .
You can contact the producer directly and ask.



 

 We
use both Fisherbrand self adhesive labels and microtube tough-tags labels (diversified Biotech from Mandel). Both have a tendency to come loose, even with guarantees. We wrap all our labels with scotch tape, and have never had a problem with the labels coming loose, from RT to -80. We use either a laser printer or permanent markers to label the tubes. As long as scotch tape is wrapped around the label, you won't get any smudging. Hope this helps.



 



 

we
are using Cryo Clear Laser Labels from diversified biotech (http://divbio.com/labels.aspx.) We
print the text with a laser printer. We started using these labels a few years
ago and so far, they have stayed on the tubes at -80ºC and in liquid nitrogen.
The text has not come off either as long as the printer was set to printing
labels (the ink does rub off if it is not burned in properly). I should say
that we are using these labels exclusively on cryo vials. Whether they will
stay on other surfaces, I don't know.



 



 

You
can use a Brother printer for this sort of thing, using extra strength adhesive
labels. The labels are incredibly strong and hold up in -80 conditions. You can
connect the printer to a computer and create the files in word (but I just
punch it out on the printer directly).



 



 

We
use 2D barcodes from Electronic Imaging Materials.

Part# 306742,  .375 inch circle,
datamatrix, stock #662 Cryolabel.



They have different adhesives for the labels and these are good for cold
storage. There's a good pic of a box with cryovials with these barcodes here:



http://www.uaf.edu/museum/collections/af/policies/



we put them on cryovials from Fisher (I use 1.2ml tubes for entomology, I think
the mammal collection uses 2ml?). These white inserts lock into the caps and
the barcodes stick to them:



COLR CODER INT THRD WHT 500CS

12-567-503

1 Case of 500 for $13.68



1.2ML CRYOVIAL INT THRD 100/PK

12-567-500

5 Pack of 100 for $38.92



 



 

I wouldn´t use thermal transfer or thermal paper, they degrade, quickly. Inkjet will suffer with condensation but I can´t tell how long laser will last (I have 10 year old labels at -50C and they are OK but who knows in 50 years). I also use paper and they have lasted but some brands are better than others and the printing is never quite as sharp. I have found that industrial brands work very well.



 



 

 --------------------------------------------------
Peter T Oboyski, PhD
Essig Museum of Entomology
University of California
http://nature.berkeley.edu/~poboyski/
---------------------------------------------------