Guidelines for the Use of RFID Technology in Transfusion Medicine

2 GuidelineFig. 2 Different tag and reader designs: (a) Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID)-labels in different sizes, (b) tags integrated in plastic chips, keys, wristbands,glass bottles and laboratory tubes, (c) handheld with barcode and RFID reader, (d) PDA with RFID reader module, (e) gate reader.Read ⁄ write: includes a chip with designated memoryblocks that can save and update user-defined data at differentstages. Some read ⁄ write tags have permanently lockableor password-protected memory that preventsaccidental alteration of key data.Kill command: an RFID special command designed forpermanently erasing the memory and disabling the tag sothat it cannot be read by any reader.2.1.2 ReadersReaders have an antenna that sends and receives electromagneticwaves to exchange data with the tag. Power foroperation comes from a main or battery power supplydepending on the reader type. Some readers are designed toread and show tag information only; others include a processorto run software on the reader. The received informationcan be sent to servers directly through dockingstations, or via wireless networks. There are many types ofreader designs and functionalities that are optimized foruse as handheld readers, stationary readers, reader gates,tunnels, and equipment-integrated readers (Fig. 2). Somehandheld readers are available with barcode reading capabilityin addition to mixed data carrier usage. Gates andtunnels often allow the identification of individual tags in agroup. Very fast reading of all UID in a group is called‘‘inventorying’’ or ‘‘bulk reading.’’2.1.3 FrequenciesRFID systems can work on different frequency bands(Fig. 3):Low Frequency (LF); unlicensed use is allowed in mostcountries but there are, however, differences in practice.Typically, frequencies at 125 or 134 KHz are used.High Frequency (HF) at 13.56 MHz is available for unlicenseduse in nearly every country, because of theLF300 MHz2·45 GHz13·56 MHz 868-956 MHz 5·8 GHz0·1 1 10 100 1000 10,000Fig. 3 Allocated radio frequencies used for Radio Frequency IDentification(RFID) technology (LF, low frequency; HF, high frequency; UHF, ultrahigh frequency).MHzdevelopment and wide deployment of ISO-standardizedcontactless financial smart cards and an increasing numberof passports using RFID technology.Ultra High Frequency (UHF) covers the widest range offrequencies. Because of conflicts with assigned cellulartelephone frequency bands, UHF tags use different frequenciesin Asia, Europe and the Americas. Most major countriesapproving unlicensed use have some spectrumallocated between 860 and 960 MHz. These tags have thelongest range because of the power levels allowed. Allowedpower levels in radio regulations for unlicensed use of2455 MHz vary dramatically, largely because of health andsafety concerns in different countries (Note: this frequencyband is shared with other types of devices including wirelessLANs and microwave cooking ovens).The physical and operational properties of RFID systemsand how these are influenced by biological materials isdependent on the frequency and power levels used(Table 1). The read range is influenced by the form of thetag, type of reader, frequency used, and environment.Because the readers (and active or beacon tags) employactive radio transmitters, the use of RFID tags is subject togovernmental radio broadcasting regulations.Ó 2010 The Author(s)Journal compilation Ó 2010 International Society of Blood Transfusion, Vox Sanguinis (2010) 98 (Suppl. 2), 1–24