| RFID means radio-frequency identification and is used | | | | information about the nuclear materials in real time, |
| to define tagged object that can be recognized | | | | allowing the constant monitoring of the materials self. |
| through radio-waves. This system is composed by | | | | Moreover, some RFID devices have been added to |
| two part: the first one is an integrated circuit in which | | | | notebooks to streamline information management |
| is possible to store and process information and | | | | and retrieval. This tool could be useful in big pharma, |
| modulate and de-modulated radio frequency; the | | | | or big institutions in order to correctly manage all |
| second part is usually an antenna required for | | | | information without loosing time. |
| receiving and transmitting the signal. The first use of | | | | Sample identification is another important application in |
| RFID was during the II World War when allies used | | | | the scientific laboratory; for instance, it could be really |
| this system to distinguish their planes from those of | | | | useful to recognize frozen samples –cells, proteins |
| enemy; then in 1973 it was US patented by Mario | | | | and RNAs- without opening the box. The great |
| Cardullo with a business plan showing uses in | | | | advantage of this system is the perfect preservation |
| transportation, banking, security and medical. Now, | | | | of biological materials, indeed everyone knows that |
| RFID technology is currently used for several | | | | continuous and repeated extraction from liquid |
| application: from passport to animal identification, | | | | nitrogen seriously damage biological samples. |
| from race timing to transportations payments. | | | | Furthermore, RFID allows to immediately control the |
| In health care RFID are undergone to severe | | | | box status and find if vials are missing. In quality |
| regulation to defence the privacy of consumers. In | | | | control system this system is strongly recommended |
| 2006, Food and Drug Administration highlighted the | | | | because it makes transparent audit process. Modern |
| importance to do not include information about | | | | RFID technology is miniaturized and cheap, so it could |
| consumers, health practitioners or other uses of the | | | | be applied on each cryovials through self-adhesive |
| product out of label. The RFID tag may be covered | | | | cryo safe labels. Using RFID tags has a lot of |
| with a seal containing a logo, a message unrelated to | | | | advantages specially if the freezing service is |
| product and an unique serial number and, mostly | | | | centralized or common for several laboratories: not |
| important, the tag will not substitute the traditional | | | | only box contents are always well described, but also |
| labeling process. This point wasn’t observed by | | | | operators' mistakes can be immediately repaired |
| GSK when they used RFID tag to control HIV | | | | without loosing precious materials. Also in small scale |
| treatment capsules and for this reason a violation | | | | laboratories this system could have some applications |
| was signalled. Another important use in scientific | | | | to manage samples during years specially if there is a |
| world is the tracking of nuclear substances during | | | | quick turnover of workers, as usually happens in |
| both storage and transportation. Indeed, scientists | | | | academic labs. RFID system is a modern tool to |
| from the Department of Energy Argonne National | | | | facilitate scientific job. |
| Laboratory set up a system in order to gain | | | | |