In modern labs, every second counts. When scientists spend hours, each week searching for missing equipment or reordering chemicals they already have, research slows and compliance risks grow. In fact, some federal labs report losing up to 20% of scientist time to these inefficiencies.
That’s why organizations like the FDA have turned to passive RFID. The result: faster workflows, fewer errors, and tighter traceability across labs, samples, and supplies.
ID Integration is a trusted Zebra Technologies Advanced Location and Tracking Specialist and Public Sector Specialist, with more than 25 years of experience designing and deploying complex RFID systems. Our solutions are built specifically for research, healthcare, and government lab environments and integrate seamlessly with Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs), inventory platforms, and LIMS systems.
From chemical bottles and shared centrifuges to high-value equipment spread across multiple campuses, we help labs digitize asset tracking, increase accountability, and focus more time on what matters most—scientific progress.
Why Labs Are Shifting to Passive RFID
The shift to passive RFID is not just about modernization. It’s about reclaiming valuable time, reducing waste, and strengthening compliance in complex lab environments.
In many labs, teams spend 2 to 5 hours per week searching for equipment and reagents, with inventory error rates ranging from 10 to 20 percent. After deploying an integrated RFID system, search time dropped to less than an hour, and error rates fell below 2 percent. Manual logs were replaced with automated, digital records, which lowered compliance risk and improved audit readiness.
For labs managing high-value assets, shared equipment, or sensitive biological samples, these gains are transformative. Passive RFID eliminates the need for line-of-sight scanning, automates tracking across physical spaces, and connects every item to its digital record through ELNs, inventory platforms, or LIMS systems.
The result is more than just operational efficiency. Scientists focus more time on research. Lab managers gain real-time visibility. And organizations benefit from streamlined workflows, cost savings, and improved regulatory compliance.
Designed for Lab-Specific Challenges
RFID alone does not solve the tracking challenges of a modern lab. To be truly effective, it must work as part of an integrated ecosystem that links physical assets to digital workflows in real time.
In FDA laboratories, our RFID technology supports a broader solution known as the Integrated Digital Asset System (IDAS). This system connects each asset—whether it is a centrifuge, solvent, or shared chemical—with its corresponding record in platforms like SciNote ELNs and asset management software. The result is a seamless connection between inventory control, experimental workflows, and compliance documentation.
With more than 72 lab locations in the FDA’s network, visibility and consistency were essential. IDAS makes it possible to instantly locate items across multiple sites, monitor usage trends, and ensure that each asset used in an experiment is accurately logged. Equipment, consumables, and reagents are tied to both their physical location and their digital record, reducing the risk of lost time and improving compliance.
This level of integration does more than streamline inventory. It protects research continuity, supports compliance, and enables better decision-making in labs that operate at scale. In high-security government lab environments, where handheld electronics may be restricted, we also provide RFID systems designed for secure workflows. This includes encrypted mobile devices, data-at-rest protection, and custom RFID check-in/check-out stations that allow for precise tracking without compromising sensitive lab protocols.
Key Use Cases in the Lab
Whether you’re tracking shared equipment, monitoring chemical expiration, or linking inventory to experimental workflows, passive RFID delivers visibility and control in critical lab operations.
Reagent and Chemical Inventory
Track chemical inventory in real time and eliminate guesswork. RFID tags help identify what you have, where it is stored, and when it will expire. This reduces waste, supports regulatory compliance, and cuts unnecessary reorders.
Equipment Location and Sharing
In busy labs, locating shared tools or instruments quickly can be the difference between meeting and missing a research milestone. RFID tags combined with fixed readers or handheld devices provide last known location data, so researchers spend less time searching and more time working.
Sample and Experiment Integration
Automatically link samples, materials, and equipment to digital experiment records in platforms like ELNs or LIMS. RFID enables automated data capture, connecting what is used with how and when it is used, supporting better traceability and more accurate results.
Secure Check-In and Check-Out
For labs with high-value or mobile assets, RFID-enabled check-in and check-out workflows provide a full usage history. Assets can be scanned as they move through doors, between buildings, or during shared use, supporting accountability and automation.
Compliance and Audit Readiness
RFID systems generate detailed logs of asset movement, usage, and storage conditions. These automated records reduce the burden of manual logs and give labs a consistent, verifiable trail for compliance and audits.
Results at a Glance
| Metric | Before RFID | After RFID |
| Time spent searching for assets | 1-5 hours/week | Under 1 hour/week |
| Inventory error rate | 10-20% | Under 2% |
| Manual logs | High | Automated or low |
| Compliance risk | Moderate | Significantly lower |
| Scientist time lost | Up to 20% | Greatly reduced |
See It in Action
Want to know how RFID is transforming secure research environments like FDA labs?
Watch the recent AIM Global webinar, DOGE Ready: Leveraging RFID in Aerospace and Government, featuring expert insights from ID Integration and other thought leaders across defense, government, and aerospace.
You’ll hear how leading agencies are using RFID and AIDC to enhance asset visibility, reduce compliance risk, and turn raw data into actionable insights.
Watch the replay and see what’s possible:
Let’s Talk About Your Lab
ID Integration is a Zebra Technologies Advanced Location & Tracking Specialist and Public Sector Specialist with more than 25 years of experience in complex systems integration. Ready to explore smarter asset tracking for your lab? Call us at (425) 438-2533 or reach out online to schedule a discovery session.