Bar Coding during Clinical Trials: A Feasibility Study

The advantages of using bar coding during the recruitment and registration of subjects for a clinical trial, preparing and labeling blood sampling tubes, collection and handling of blood samples, storage and transfer of blood samples to the analytical laboratory, and the subsequent analyses of the blood samples were investigated in a feasibility study. Technical details and other additional applications, such as security and archiving, are also discussed. Computer software, establishing a bar code network, choice of bar code hardware, and financial aspects were some of the problems identified. Advantages over the present manual procedures, recommendations to future users, and a look into what the future may hold are highlighted.