Steam autoclave sterilization is critical to ensuring that lab and surgical equipment is cleaned of all potential microbial contamination. But the extreme heat, moisture, vacuum and pressure of autoclave sterilization isn’t just tough on bacteria, fungi and viruses. It can also remove or do damage to the labels we use to identify and track labware, surgical instruments, trays, and other equipment.

This is why it’s important to choose the right autoclave-resistant labels. When you use labels with the right materials and durability, they’ll easily withstand the extremes of the autoclave, even across repeated sterilization cycles, and specialized labels can even withstand additional conditions such as cryogenic storage, dry heat ovens, gamma irradiators, or ethylene oxide gas treatments.

For the best results in applications such as these, Zebra’s Z-Xtreme and Z-Ultimate labels are the top recommendation for their extreme temperature resistance, scratch and smear resistance, their ability to withstand harsh chemicals such as isopropyl alcohol and bleach, and their unparalleled resistance to the harshness of the steam autoclave process.

Why Zebra Z-Xtreme and Z-Ultimate Labels Are the Best Option

Z-Xtreme and Z-Ultimate labels have a minimum application temperature of 50°F (10°C) when first applying your label to your labware, instruments, or other items. But once they’re applied, they can be exposed to temperatures of -40°F (-40°C) to up to 302°F (150°C) and still remain adhered and easily readable or scannable.

Both types of labels are great for labeling stainless steel and aluminum metal surfaces as well as Pyrex glass. There are specific label model numbers that are also quite good for labeling most plastics and even rough and moist surfaces.

Z-Xtreme labels have a white, matte polyester facestock that provides outstanding print quality and good smear and scratch resistance, along with excellent resistance to chemicals. If you need maximum smear and scratch resistance, then Z-Ultimate labels are recommended. Their white, gloss polyester facestock offers enhanced durability against smearing and scratching beyond what the Z-Xtreme offers.

Typically, you will want to use Z-Xtreme or Z-Ultimate 2000T or 4000T labels and pair them with Zebra’s 5095 or 5100 resin ribbons for high durability to abrasion, harsh chemicals and the environmental stresses of the autoclave.

With both the Z-Xtreme and Z-Ultimate, there are versions with removable acrylic adhesives, and the rest are UL-approved and CSA-compliant labels with permanent acrylic adhesives for long-term labeling.

Zebra PolyPro Labels for Curved Surfaces

One special consideration in labeling labware or instruments for autoclave sterilization is the curvature of the surface. If you’re labeling a curved surface and it will be exposed to the autoclave, Zebra’s PolyPro 4000T labels are typically your best choice.

The PolyPro 4000T comes in a standard, high-tack or removable version, and it has a matte Kimdura® polypropylene facestock with a permanent or removable acrylic adhesive. The Kimdura polypropylene material is more flexible than a polyester label, so it’s better for adhering to curved surfaces.

The PolyPro 4000T offers outstanding operating temperature resistance of -40°F (-40°C) to up to 250°F (121°C), and it can be applied at temperatures as low as 10°F (-12°C) if you’re using the standard label within this type. When applying a version with high-tack or removable adhesives, then the application temperatures need to be higher, and the operating temperature ranges learn more toward the colder side and don’t offer as much high-temp resistance.

Finding the Right Autoclave Labels for Your Needs

To get more details and to match up the right label and specs with your autoclave application, download our Zebra label and supplies selector guide and check out pages 14-16 for information on Zebra’s PolyPro, Z-Xtreme and Z-Ultimate Labels.

Models

ZT610, ZT610 RFID, ZT620, ZT620 RFID

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Don’t Forget your Label and Ribbon Supplies!

Keep your operations running smoothly with exceptional labeling solutions Laboratory labeling solutions significantly impact the quality-of-care healthcare providers give patients. According to a study of 120 healthcare institutions, nearly 56% of identification errors in the lab were caused by specimen labeling errors. High-quality laboratory labeling solutions facilitate accurate diagnoses and proper treatments for the correct patients. However, ineffective laboratory labels can cause any number of repercussions: • Diagnostic errors • Wrong treatments • Misidentified specimens • Redraw costs • Reduced productivity • Risks to patient safety • Litigation • Lost samples that can’t be redrawn, such as biopsy tissue in addition to impacting patient care, misidentified specimens can incur costs of approximately $280,000 per million specimens, with redraws, retesting, and additional treatment costing $400 million annually. Healthcare providers face enough challenges on a day-to-day basis. Laboratory labels should be the last thing they need to be concerned about. 56% of identification errors in the lab were caused by specimen labeling errors. Our reliable solutions are designed for a wide range of containers and applications, including: • Specimen tubes and slides • Petri dishes • Breast milk management • Blood bags • Point of care specimen labeling Zebra Certified Supplies: Consistently Exceptional and Exceptionally Consistent Zebra’s provides a wide offering of laboratory labeling solutions for: • Specimen collection, considering the container shape and material • A wide variety of tests, ensuring they are readable when subjected to stains and chemicals • Storage, accounting for lengths of time and variance in temperature in refrigerators and freezers Our solutions perform consistently with every order so that every label is readable and scannable at the end of each lab test. Zebra laboratory labels help you deliver accurate test results to the correct patients for proper treatments in a timely manner. Verified for challenging surfaces and testing conditions There are a host of challenging surfaces and testing conditions laboratory labels must solve. Labeling solutions must adapt to flat surfaces or curved surfaces of different sizes, as well as fluctuations in temperature, test equipment, and exposure to solvents and stains during testing procedures. Any one of these factors can compromise the label. Labels on slides, for example, may lose adhesion when they are subject to testing stains. Also, it is common for labels to unstick or “flag” when they are put on small curved surfaces and spun in a centrifuge. They may fall off completely, or technicians have to smooth them back on, which can impact efficiency, readability, and errors. • In our Supplies R&D Lab we test labels to ensure they withstand specific temperatures in heating and cooling, and they resist xylene, alcohols, hematoxylin, and other solvents and stains. • Zebra solutions stay affixed to the most challenging surfaces, such as small curved surfaces, using flexible material and special adhesives. • Zebra blood bag labels meet ISBT 128 requirements and won’t leach through surfaces or contaminate blood. Zebra labeling solutions meet CLSI AUTO12-A standards The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) developed AUTO12-A standards to prevent specimens in clinical laboratories from being mislabeled. AUTO12-A standards specify label sizes, and locations and formats for data required to be human-readable, such as a patient’s name. The standards also specify how to truncate long patient names, location and size of barcodes on labels, orientation of labels on specimen tubes, and other requirements.