Just wondering how places clearly identify what the contents of a syringe are when the syringe is loaded into the driver?

Would appreciate it if you would ask around please.
Do you know of any info related to the labelling of syringes, recommendations or products available.

At the moment we use generic sticky labels but these are not great.
Wondered if there is anything better out there?
many thanks,
Quinny

Do you mean labels like this???

www.reptonmedical.co.uk/downloadrequesth...&itemId=402

Just a small point, make sure that the label does not cover the volume marks on the syringe and that it does not interfere with the barrel clamp/sensor.

Please allow me to point you towards the UK's leading drug labelling system - Hospicode Medilabels.

As part of the Department of Health's drive to minimise drug administration errors in critical care areas, the Councils of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine and the Intensive Care Society agreed to recommend the adoption of a single standard for syringe labelling. You can read a copy of the their May 2003 publication here. This publication was updated June 2004, you can read the update here.

The Hospicode® Medilabel Colour-Coded Labelling System is totally compliant with the above recommendations. Groups of drugs are easily identified by colour and better than any other system the Hospicode® Medilabel Colour Coded Labelling System is also supplied in colour coded boxes for even easier, safer and more convenient use.

View examples of the system here.

The Hospicode® Medilabel system is still the U.K. No1 for syringe labelling. Used in hospitals throughout the world our system easily identifies syringe contents and dosage. Click here for illustrations.

Labels for I.V. Lines are designed to allow intravenous lines to be easily recognised. The left side of the label is the same as the Hospicode® syringe labels showing drug name. The right side of the label also shows the drug name but has space for date and time, so every aspect of administration is accounted for. Click here for illustrations.

Drug Additive Labels are a larger label designed for the IV bags. These show the drug name and also allow space for amount, added to, concentration, time, date, patients name, prepared by, batch no and checked by. Click here for illustrations.

Click here to get the latest Medilabel Order Forms which you can choose to print and post, fax or mail to us. Alternatively you will find all titles available within the Labels section of our e-shop where you can buy them directly either using credit/debit cards or on account.

Hope this helps!

Many thanks for all of your replies. Very helpful.

The labels used here as far as I know are not actually designed to be used on syringes at all but for identifying which drugs have been added to a fluid bag.
As such the labels are quite big and wrap around most of the barrel of the syringe potentially obscuring the volume marks if they are just slapped on without thinking about it.
When the syringe is loaded on a pump it is impossible in most cases to be able to read the entire label without removing the syringe from the infusion device.
I was in the habit of folding the labels over so that one edge could be stuck to the syringe while still being able to read both sides of the folded label. That's fine except for PCA pumps where the locking cover causes more problems.
When I first enquired about the subject some years ago it appeared that the syringe manufacturer (BD) were not able to supply labels designed for their syringes or more likely that the hospital never requested such labels and since then nobody has worried about it at all.
I read an article about Lothian Hospitals implementing a label flag system (here) and even got some samples from the company supplying them but no-one seemed to be interested in the additional cost (pennies per infusion) of actually using such a system.

Check Radiometers ABL Webpage