Method for identifying and tracking test specimens
First Claim
1. A method for identifying and tracking a test specimen, comprising the steps of:
- a) affixing at least one RFID tag to a select specimen at a collection facility;
b) associating the RFID tag with the specimen;
c) coding the RFID tag with specimen-specific data;
d) electrically scanning the RFID tag to generate a first list comprising at least a portion of the specimen-specific data;
e) communicating the first list from the collection facility to a test facility;
f) transporting the test specimen from the collection facility to the test facility;
g) electrically scanning the RFID tag at the test facility to obtain a second list comprising the specimen-specific data; and
h) comparing the first and second lists wherein the test facility can verify the identity of a selected test specimen received from a collection facility.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for identifying and tracking test specimens using Radio-Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tags. The RFID tag typically contains an electronic microchip, which may be permanently attached to a substrate containing a small planar antenna. Each tag is encoded with a unique identifier and may be associated with a remote, computer-based record for the specimen. The tag may also electronically store information, such as test instructions, submitter data, specimen data, and testing status. The microchip is powered by an external Radio Frequency (“RF”) field provided by a corresponding interrogating scanner, which can read the data stored on the microchip and also provides a means for writing data into the microchip'"'"'s memory. The RFID tag thus serves to not only uniquely identify the test specimen, but also provide current information regarding the status of the specimen.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method for identifying and tracking a test specimen, comprising the steps of:
-
a) affixing at least one RFID tag to a select specimen at a collection facility;
b) associating the RFID tag with the specimen;
c) coding the RFID tag with specimen-specific data;
d) electrically scanning the RFID tag to generate a first list comprising at least a portion of the specimen-specific data;
e) communicating the first list from the collection facility to a test facility;
f) transporting the test specimen from the collection facility to the test facility;
g) electrically scanning the RFID tag at the test facility to obtain a second list comprising the specimen-specific data; and
h) comparing the first and second lists wherein the test facility can verify the identity of a selected test specimen received from a collection facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for identifying and tracking test specimens within a batch, comprising the steps of:
-
a) affixing at least one RFID tag to each of a plurality of test specimens at a collection facility;
b) associating each RFID tag with the select specimen to which it is affixed;
c) coding each RFID tag with specimen-specific data;
d) electrically scanning the RFID tags of each of the specimens within a batch to generate a first list comprising at least a portion of the specimen-specific data of each specimen;
e) communicating the first list from the collection facility to a test facility;
f) transporting the batch of test specimens from the collection facility to the test facility;
g) electrically scanning the RFID tags of each of the specimens within a batch at the test facility to obtain a second list comprising specimen-specific data of each specimen; and
h) comparing the first and second lists wherein the test facility can verify the identity of each test specimen within a batch received from a collecting facility. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification