Study finds RFID technology safe for use with biologics

Published: 26-Jul-2012

Revealed in in vitro tests for more than 100 biopharmaceutical products


US scientists have found that RFID technology is safe for use with biologics, making the technology suitable for track and trace operations.

The findings of the study, Effects of Radio Frequency Identification-related Radiation on In Vitro Biologics, conducted by researchers at the University of South Florida Blood Center of Wisconsin, Abbott, Georgia Institute of Technology and the Madison RFID Lab at the University of Wisconsin, are published in the July/August issue of the PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology.

The in vitro test results for more than 100 biopharmaceutical products from eight major drug companies demonstrated no non-thermal effect by radio frequency radiation.

The findings come in advance of forthcoming requirements mandated by ePedigree laws in California and Florida in the US, which are expected to come into effect in 2015 and ultimately affect the entire pharmaceutical industry.

Compliance with these laws will require a combination of RFID and 2D barcode technologies for monitoring the condition, authenticity and traceability of pharmaceuticals, including biologics, such as vaccines, medications and therapeutics. Peter Mehring, president and ceo of Intelleflex, a supplier of RFID products based on its X3 technology, said: ‘We're pleased that the results of this study prove that RFID technology is inherently safe when used with biologics.

‘By using RFID for package-level temperature monitoring, producers of biologics can not only take preventive action to safeguard their products during shipping, warehousing, and delivery, but can also maintain end-to-end traceability of those products.’

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