World's first '384' code reader

Absolute Vision, a specialist in two dimensional (2D) code reading, will launch what it claims is the world's first solution to read Data Matrix codes on 384 rack-mounted sample storage-tubes.

The company said that the product, which will be released in November, is designed to meet the growing need in biotechnology and pharmaceutical R&D communities for individual identification of smaller quantities of both fluid and dry samples.

Rackmate 384c is a compact, high-end rack-reader with a robust construction that the company believes can ensure reliability "even in the toughest conditions." A three second read-time for a complete rack of 384 vials that is subject to the processor is held up as a unique feature of the product.

Ian Ransome, director of drug discovery at The Automation Partnership (TAP​), believes that the reader is a real advance. It is compatible with TAP's recently-launched PicoTube, the first 384-way tube that can be individually coded to allow individual vessel tracking and verification from creation, through to storage and subsequent usage.

The reader, which is compatible with most coded tube types from leading manufactures, is an extension of Absolute Vision's 96 way tube-reader for industry standard 1.2ml plastic tubes. The company maintains that tube manufacturers are seeking to miniaturise this technology to achieve the same level of traceability on the smaller 384-way tubes.

"We were responding to the market need from companies like ABgene and TAP, which launched a new single-use sample storage tube suitable for storing in racks of 384, PicoTube, in March. We are the first to bring a 384 format reading solutions to market, due to our close working relationship with the tube manufacturers and laboratory automation companies."​ explained Charlie Plain-Jones, sales director at Absolute Vision​.

The Rackmate 384c is an imager based system that the company claims is simple to operate. It comprises of cameras, software licenses and has database integration capability as well as data export and configuration options and connection cables. The reader links to a PC supplied as part of the system, and uses the latestMedusa​ software interface which is a combined amplifier and data acquisition system.

A detailed screen displays both the tube images and an overlay of the decoded data, and the decoding algorithms, which are described by the company as state of the art, maintain reliable reading even if a code is damaged or disfigured.

The Rackmate 384c is to be launched at the Biotech International​ and Lab Automation​ Europe shows, which will be held in Olympia, London, 25-26 November.