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Pilot trials of PDF symbology as a means of transfering data on blood units between transfusion centres
Author(s) -
Fisher M. M.,
Hitchins L.,
McDougall D.,
Sherriff G.,
Brown J.,
Blakeman A.,
Bowell P.,
Strange J.,
Gunson H. H.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
transfusion medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1365-3148
pISSN - 0958-7578
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3148.1995.tb00187.x
Subject(s) - barcode , readability , documentation , computer science , transfer (computing) , blood transfusion , medicine , surgery , operating system , programming language
SUMMARY. PDF 417, a two‐dimensional barcode, was used as a portable data file to transfer key information on blood units and delivery documentation between two Regional Blood Transfusion Centres. Multiple Codabar messages currently displayed on blood packs, as well as other useful information, i.e. microbiology conformance, were encoded in a 45‐character single PDF barcode. The delivery note which accompanied each consignment of blood consisted of a series of PDF barcodes, each representing 20 blood units. Computer validation showed 100% reconciliation of PDF data with Codabar data. Readability of the code was excellent with a greater than 98% first‐pass read rate. The delivery note PDF barcode identified eight operator errors which would have been undetected by the present manual system. We conclude that PDF 417 is an effective, secure and space efficient means of transfering data associated with the transfer of blood.