What is Specimen Tracking?
Chain of Custody and Sample Management
Trusted by leading diagnostic labs and life sciences companies
- Specimen Tracking
- Specimen tracking is the systematic monitoring of samples throughout the laboratory workflow - from collection through testing to storage or disposal. It maintains chain of custody, enables real-time location visibility, and ensures sample integrity for regulatory compliance.
Effective specimen tracking prevents lost samples, reduces manual searching, supports quality investigations, and provides audit trails required by regulators like CAP and CLIA. Modern tracking uses barcodes, RFID, or other technologies integrated with LIMS/LIS.
Key Components
Barcode/RFID Labels
Unique identifiers for scanning at each step
Location Tracking
Real-time visibility of specimen whereabouts
Timestamp Logging
Automatic recording of all specimen movements
Storage Management
Track freezer/refrigerator locations and conditions
Search & Retrieval
Quickly locate any sample in the system
Chain of Custody
Complete audit trail for compliance
Benefits of Specimen Tracking
Reduces lost and misplaced specimens
Enables real-time status visibility
Supports regulatory compliance
Improves TAT through bottleneck identification
Provides complete audit trails
Facilitates biobank and research retrieval
Reduces staff time searching for samples
Enables quality investigations