When choosing a label solutions supplier, it’s important to find the right fit for you. Alongside tangible benefits, a label supplier that provides service, support, and peace of mind is critical for your continued success. Consider the following criteria when choosing a blood label supplier:

1. Your Label Supplier Should Anticipate All of Your Needs

The most effective way to ensure consistent quality, save time, and cut extraneous costs is to consolidate your sources. In order to do so, your supplier should offer everything you need to meet your labeling needs.

By working with a label supplier who can offer pre-printed ISBT 128-compliant DIN sets, blank label stock and carefully matched thermal transfer ribbons you can save time and reduce costs by taking care of all your needs with a single order. Working with a single supplier also ensures consistent quality in all your labels.

Even more, when you work with a supplier who can provide printers, DIN Replicators, or other technology that may be helpful in your labeling processes you further optimize your operations. By working with a single supplier to source your printers and labels, your supplier can properly match your labels to your print solution for optimal performance. It also simplifies the service process in case issues arise since your supplier can take full responsibility for the resolution of any problems.

2. Your Label Supplier Should Know the Blood Collection Industry and Regulations

When it comes to the processing and storage of medical products of human origin, a lot of regulations are in place to ensure the safety of samples.

Your label supplier needs to be familiar with blood labeling regulations to ensure the safety of your samples.

It’s a good idea to look for a supplier who is familiar with the blood industry specifically, because they will already be aware of the regulations and have access to the necessary resources to ensure your labels are compliant. Look for companies with ISBT compliant licensing, FDA compliant materials and affiliation with the AABB.

3. Your Label Supplier Should Know the Latest Technologies and Trends and How They May Help Your Business

In order to best assist in your labeling processes, your chosen label supplier should be knowledgeable about the latest technologies and trends.

Specifically in blood banking, new technologies are being developed with the goal of making blood sample tracking more efficient, accurate and safe.

Partnering with a tech-savvy label supplier will provide you with a competitive advantage in regards to finding and implementing the best and latest labeling technology within your processes, whether that be a more durable label, or one with RFID capabilities. This blog covers 5 ways RFID can be utilized in global diagnostics, it’s worth a read because RFID can be used for very similar purposes in the blood community.

4. Ensure Sequence Integrity

Sequence integrity is critical in blood labeling applications. Unscannable labels or duplicates can lead to wasted donations, or even worse, harm to a patient.

Your supplier should have a system in place to ensure duplicate and unreadable labels never reach your facility. At Computype, we have a special vision-based inspection system that scans and decodes every label multiple times to ensure 100% first-pass readability, the absence of duplicates, and the removal of labels with even minor defects..

This type of service is called sequence management; it ensures the unique identification of your samples and your end-product. By making sure each and every sample is supplied with a unique identity that can be scanned throughout the process, the entire journey of each blood bag, from donor to patient, is correctly documented.

5. Help Control Costs

Budget is always a concern, and we believe labeling should never feel like a burden to your facility when it comes to budget, or otherwise.

As a professional in the labeling industry, your label supplier should be able to recognize opportunities to cut unnecessary costs. Whether they can offer a multi-year agreement, find lower cost materials, or help you design a smaller DIN set, there are several ways your supplier can help you control costs.

6. Your Label Supplier Should Ensure Reliability and Consistency

Your chosen label supplier should be reliable; knowing your needs and understanding how important it is you receive consistent quality and service.

Your supplier should be eager to learn about your individual collection trends and provide a consistent supply regardless of fluctuations in demand. Inventory management is critical for DIN sets especially, and good suppliers will partner with you in that effort.

For a critical supply item like DIN label sets, a supplier with built-in redundancy of production facilities is important. At Computype, we maintain facilities in both the US and the UK. If a customer needs an emergency run of labels and we are unable to print them at one of our plants for any number of reasons, we can prepare identical labels at the other plant.

7. Your Label Supplier Should be Flexible

As we mentioned above, your supplier should be prepared to meet your needs in the event the unexpected occurs. Whether that means accommodating a sudden change in your needs or addressing an unexpected loss of labels, your supplier should be able to adapt.

A great supplier will also be flexible when it comes to the little things, like your preferred method of communication, frequency of ordering, or shipping preparation.

Finding the right label supplier for your blood bank or storage facility is crucial. Consider the criteria discussed above in your supplier decision and communicate your needs and preferences to your chosen supplier to develop a partnership that is beneficial to the changing demands of your organization.