scope:

This standard ensures that identification of specimen container bar codes will be effective in automated laboratory systems and for sample handling in automated instrumentation. The standard uses Code 128, a bar-code symbology which accommodates many different languages and recommended phasing out all other types of symbologies by the year 2003. In addition, the placement of the label has been recommended to be 9 mm from the bottom and 10 mm from the top of the specimen container with no more than three labels, including the manufacturer's label.

The bar code used for specimen container identification which is referred to in this document may be any one of three SAC attribute fields defined in CLSI/NCCLS document AUTO3-Laboratory Automation: Communications With Automated Clinical Laboratory Systems, Instruments, Devices, and Information Systems, Section 6.3.3. These fields may depend on the application and include the attributes, container identifier, or primary (parent) container identifier. In some applications, the specimen identification used must be unique to a single container. It is also important to note that the maximum field length as defined in Section 8.3.3 of CLSI/NCCLS document AUTO3 may not be possible. The field size will be limited by the bar-code characteristics and the specimen container sizes used in the specific application.