Barcode scanners and printers identify and track samples, tubes, and specimens through every stage of a laboratory or pharmaceutical workflow, turning a physical sample into a traceable record that a laboratory information management system can follow from collection through to final result.

Clinical laboratory staff, blood bank technicians, biobank managers, and pharmaceutical quality teams rely on this equipment to prevent the sample mix-ups and documentation gaps that can compromise patient safety or invalidate a regulated result. Browse new and used barcode scanners and printers from verified sellers on Machinery Masters.

What Are Barcode Scanners & Printers?

Barcode scanners and printers work together to create and read the identifiers that keep a sample traceable, with the printer generating a barcode or 2D data matrix label and the scanner reading it back at each step a sample moves through a workflow. Handheld scanners cover most everyday identification tasks, letting staff scan a tube or sample container as they move between benches or storage locations, while fixed-mount, machine-vision-based readers integrate directly into automated systems, reading labels continuously as samples move through a process without anyone scanning manually.

Laboratory identification needs go beyond a standard shipping label in a few important ways. Cryogenic labels have to survive submersion in liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees Celsius without the adhesive failing or the print smearing, a requirement a standard label simply can't meet. Many biobanks and sample storage operations also rely on 2D data matrix codes printed on the base of a tube itself rather than a side label, since a base code stays readable even when tubes are packed tightly into a rack, and dedicated tube readers exist specifically to decode these at speed across an entire rack at once.

Barcode Scanners & Printers Brands

Honeywell, known for its healthcare and laboratory-specific barcode scanner ranges
Zebra Technologies, known for its ZD series of healthcare-specific desktop label printers
Brady, known for its cryogenic label ranges rated for liquid nitrogen storage
Cognex, known for its DataMan range of fixed-mount, machine-vision barcode and data matrix readers
Micronic, known for its 2D-barcoded sample tubes and Rack Reader and Tube Reader systems
Azenta Life Sciences (formerly Brooks Life Sciences), known for its FluidX range of 2D-coded tubes and tube reading systems
Datalogic, known for its handheld barcode scanner ranges used in clinical and laboratory settings
Thermo Fisher Scientific, known for its Matrix brand of 2D-barcoded tubes and barcode reader instruments

Please verify this brand list against current Machinery Masters marketplace inventory before publishing, as available stock changes over time.

Barcode Scanners & Printers Product Types

Barcode scanners and printers divide into a handful of formats depending on how a sample is identified and how that identification gets read back.

Handheld Barcode Scanners

Handheld barcode scanners let staff read a barcode or 2D data matrix label at the bench, during sample receipt, or while moving material between storage locations. This format covers the bulk of everyday sample identification tasks across clinical, research, and pharmaceutical laboratories.

Fixed-Mount and Machine-Vision Barcode Readers

Fixed-mount, machine-vision-based barcode readers integrate directly into automated laboratory systems, reading labels continuously as samples move through a process without any manual scanning step. Laboratory automation platforms and high-throughput workflows rely on this format to keep sample tracking accurate at speed.

Desktop and Industrial Label Printers

Desktop and industrial label printers generate the barcode and 2D data matrix labels a laboratory applies to samples, tubes, and containers, ranging from compact desktop units for occasional use through to higher-throughput industrial printers for continuous labelling demand.

Cryogenic and Specialty Labels

Cryogenic labels are built to survive submersion in liquid nitrogen without the adhesive failing or the print smearing, a requirement standard labels can't meet. Biobanks, cell therapy manufacturers, and any laboratory storing samples in liquid nitrogen depend on this speciality format to keep samples identifiable through years of cryogenic storage.

2D Data Matrix Tube Readers

2D data matrix tube readers decode barcodes printed on the base of individual tubes rather than a side label, reading an entire rack of tubes at once rather than one at a time. Biobanks and high-throughput sample storage operations rely on this format since a base code stays readable even when tubes are packed tightly together.

Barcode Scanners & Printers: Applications and Uses

Barcode scanners and printers support sample tracking and traceability across clinical laboratories, blood banks, biobanks, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Clinical Patient Sample Identification

Clinical laboratories use barcode scanning and electronic laboratory information system integration to confirm correct patient identification throughout the analytical workflow, a requirement ISO 15189 sets out in detail to prevent sample mix-up and ensure results trace back to the correct patient.

Blood Bank and Specimen Tracking

Blood banks and transfusion services rely on barcode identification to track blood units and components accurately, since a mislabelled or misidentified unit carries serious patient safety consequences in a transfusion setting.

Biobank and Cryogenic Sample Management

Biobanks use cryogenic labels and 2D data matrix tube readers to track thousands of samples stored in liquid nitrogen, keeping every vial identifiable and searchable despite years of cryogenic storage and repeated freeze-thaw handling.

GMP Pharmaceutical Sample Traceability

GMP pharmaceutical laboratories use barcode scanning integrated with electronic audit trail systems to document sample handling and quality testing, supporting the documented control and traceability that regulatory guidance requires for quality testing records.

Laboratory Automation and High-Throughput Workflows

High-throughput laboratories integrate fixed-mount barcode readers directly into automated liquid handling and sample processing platforms, keeping sample identity accurate through a workflow that moves too fast for manual scanning at every step.

How to Choose Barcode Scanners & Printers

A handful of practical factors determine which barcode scanning and printing equipment suits a laboratory's needs.

Match the scanner format to your workflow, choosing a handheld scanner for manual, bench-level identification and a fixed-mount reader for automated systems that need continuous, hands-free scanning.
Confirm label durability against your storage conditions, since standard labels won't survive liquid nitrogen storage and a dedicated cryogenic label is essential for any sample going into cryogenic storage.
Consider whether a 2D data matrix tube reader would suit your sample volume, since reading an entire rack at once is far faster than scanning tubes individually once volumes grow large.
Check compatibility with your laboratory information management system, particularly where GMP or clinical traceability requirements apply to the data being captured.
For used equipment, confirm the scanner or printer still reads and prints reliably at the resolution your labels require, and check that compatible label stock and print ribbons remain available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a standard barcode and a 2D data matrix code?

A standard barcode stores data in a single line that a scanner reads across, while a 2D data matrix code stores data in a small square grid that can be printed on the base of a tube and read even when packed tightly among other tubes. Biobanks and high-throughput laboratories favour 2D data matrix codes specifically because they take up far less space and don't need a clear side label to be readable.

Do I need special labels for cryogenic sample storage?

Yes, standard labels lose adhesion and legibility when submerged in liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees Celsius, so any sample going into cryogenic storage needs a dedicated cryogenic label built to survive that temperature without failing. Using a standard label on a cryogenically stored sample risks losing sample identification entirely.

What is the difference between a handheld scanner and a fixed-mount barcode reader?

A handheld scanner requires a staff member to actively scan each sample, suited to manual bench-level workflows, while a fixed-mount, machine-vision-based reader integrates into an automated system and reads labels continuously as samples move through a process without manual intervention. Laboratory automation platforms rely on fixed-mount readers specifically because they keep pace with automated throughput.

What is the difference between new and used barcode scanners and printers?

New barcode scanners and printers come with a manufacturer warranty and current software compatibility, while used equipment offers meaningful cost savings and suits laboratories that can confirm the unit still scans or prints reliably and that compatible consumables remain available. It is worth testing read accuracy and print resolution on a sample batch before relying on used equipment for regulated sample tracking.

How can I find barcode scanners and printers on Machinery Masters?

Browse the Machinery Masters marketplace for new and used barcode scanners and printers from verified sellers, and use the filters to narrow results by brand, format, and configuration. Contact a seller directly to confirm specifications, service history, and pricing before you buy.