To help hospitals keep track of small items, including pre-filled syringes, vials and cartridges, Japanese firm Murata is introducing a Rain RFID tag.

The launch will take place at this month’s Pharmapack conference in Paris, France, from May 18 to 19.

Designed to provide a unique identifier, the tag lets RFID readers determine the item’s identity and authenticity in healthcare applications. It can be fitted to metallic and non-metallic surfaces, and can help avoid any risk of contamination during the drug filling operations. It can also be embedded into the product.

The integrated antenna has been made in multilayer ceramic substrates to create a small and robust RFID tag capable of automatic identification and bulk reading of more than 400 units peer minute. This capability allows real-time identification at full production speeds, preventing any mix-up during drug filling operations.

The RFID tags also provide item-level serialisation, thus limiting batch segregation should a defect be found in the aftermarket.

“New regulations for product traceability and quality control in the production line from health authorities like the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) and USP (US Pharmacopeia) are driving the healthcare industry to identify and authenticate individual products from the cradle to the grave,” said Teppei Miura, general manager at Murata ID. “The small Rain RFID tag is perfect for identifying products, such as pre-filled vials and syringes and single-use injectors, during high-speed production processes as well as providing traceability for authentication in the aftermarket.”

Conventional tracking of pre-filled vials and syringes requires a QR code as an applied label or printed directly onto the product’s surface. Unlike RFID tags, which support bulk reading, QR codes are read individually, slowing down production. As these biochemical products require strict temperature control, condensation can also make it difficult to scan the QR code. Retrofit labels also pose a potential risk of contamination during the filling processes.

Embedding the Rain RFID tag directly into the component of the vial and syringe overcomes these difficulties with no risk of contamination or impact on visual inspection; it also takes out the process step of applying the QR code. And, as all the pertinent information remains with the item, manual input errors are eliminated.

In the aftermarket, benefits of using Rain RFID tags include navigation by users, such as instruction for use, and third-party drug and counterfeit drug prevention. For rechargeable insulin injectors, the tags can be used as part of the connected ecosystem to send usage data to the cloud for patient monitoring purposes.

Murata is a manufacturer of electronic components, modules and devices. The range includes ceramic capacitors, resistors, thermistors, inductors, chokes, timing devices, buzzers, sensors and EMI suppression filters. It is also a maker of Bluetooth and wifi modules and board-mount DC-DC converters, and is a manufacturer of standard and custom AC-DC power supplies.

Established in 1944, Murata is headquartered in Japan.