Using RFID for product sterilization production

Government regulations require that all bottled solutions must undergo a rigorous sterilization process through an autoclave. Solution bottles must be sterilized at 120°C for at least 10-15 minutes. Therefore, the process must be strictly documented and controlled.

If there is doubt as to whether any batch has successfully completed the sterilization process, the entire batch in question must be discarded. Considering that a bottle of solution costs approximately $110, and a pallet contains approximately 160 3 ml bottles of solution, the value of the complete pallet that had to be discarded due to suspicion was $17,600, money that was effectively wasted Throw it away.

Drugs are safer

With the introduction of metal pallets with RFID tags, it is now possible to track when each bottle enters the oven (tray ID coincides with entry time/date stamp), and when it exits the autoclave. The tray is now instantly and accurately identified as having completed the autoclave sterilization process.

All information is entered manually before performing this process. This approach is often prone to human error and often results in entire pallets of solution having to be scrapped due to the inability to verify that the solution has been correctly sterilized.

Operate more efficiently

Additionally, RFID tags are able to survive the harsh temperatures of an autoclave for longer periods of time, whereas manual tracking processes such as paper barcodes or even traditional mounted metal RFID tags cannot survive repeated autoclave cycles.

What's more, the accuracy and completeness of the RFID pallet tracking system allows only one employee to be assigned to manage the process, whereas manual processes would require 2 to 3 employees.