RFID Labels Enhance Tracking of Prefilled Syringes

Schreiner MediPharm, a Germany-based provider of innovative functional label solutions for the healthcare industry, has partnered with SCHOTT Pharma, a specialist in drug-containment and -delivery solutions for medications, to develop a solution to equip prefilled syringes with RFID. Among other applications, the combination syringe and smart label opens broad opportunities to optimize hospital routines.

Previously, the ongoing partnership between Schreiner and SCHOTT had been focused primarily on equipping cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) syringes with analog functional labels. With this latest effort, the two pharmaceutical packaging experts are digitizing prefilled syringes. What differentiates the new RFID-Labels is the combination of conventional product information marking and the application of unique, digital identifiers for each unit.

This enables optimized processes in hospital inventory management, patient care, and documentation, as well as the digital identification of medications and medical devices. In addition, digital first-opening indication to protect the integrity of the syringe can be incorporated.

To successfully implement this innovation — and to ensure reliable RFID functionality pertaining to performance and range — various characteristics of the prefilled syringe must be considered. Aside from materials such as COC, polypropylene, or glass, each of which can affect range and trouble-free reading of the tag, syringe size, and diameter play a key role: The smaller the syringe, the less space for product marking and integration of the RFID chip. Plus, smaller tags typically yield shorter read ranges. In addition, syringe curvature may affect performance, especially in the case of small diameters.

The dielectric properties of the medications contained in the syringe also play a role. In particular, water-based active ingredients can have a negative impact on a tag’s radio transmission performance. This requires precise positioning of the RFID-Label and integrated inlay according to the liquid and fill level. Additionally, special data standards for identification and unit-level tracking — such as UnitVisID or GS1, which enable all relevant stakeholders to interpret and use the data — must be considered, as well as integration in the respective infrastructure.

The lock-and-key principle ensures that a medical device and its consumables, for example a drug, belong together without any doubt. The device is equipped with an RFID reader (= lock). It reads a consumable equipped with an RFID label (= key) automatically and contactless. The data stored on the RFID chip ensures that only original products are used. The lock-and-key principle increases patient safety during self-medication and drug administration, prevents the use of expired, wrong, or counterfeit medicines and consumables, and helps avoid application and dosing errors.

Schreiner MediPharm and SCHOTT Pharma can adapt the solution to a customer’s specific requirements, to ensure optimal functionality from production to final use. This helps enhance product safety and avoid potential medication errors.

The new solution from Schreiner MediPharm and SCHOTT Pharma was presented for the first time at the PDA Universe of Pre-filled Syringes and Injection Devices Conference, October 18-19 in Palm Springs, CA. At the event, Arne Rehm, Senior Product Manager, RFID/NFC Solutions, at Schreiner MediPharm, and Tom van Ginneken, head of global product management for SCHOTT TOPPAC®, delivered a joint presentation, “Making Pre-filled Syringes Smart.”

For more information on Schreiner MediPharm, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit here . For more information on SCHOTT Pharma, visit here .

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