Application of the OCR-B symbol in the data-processing system of the Finnish Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service

We have used the Optical Character Recognition system B (OCR-B) for automatic identification of blood samples on the Groupamatic 360 and in connection with computerized donor file management and control of blood product processing. For the Groupamatic system a device was constructed that lifts that samples, and during simultaneous rotation and downward movement, the OCR-B identification number on the tube label is read. The results indicate that with appropriate control and check digit design it is possible to achieve an economical and safe machine-readable identification system.