# Radiation Sterilizable, RFID Tagged Vials for Biomedical Samples

> **NIH NIH R44** · BIO TILLION, LLC · 2020 · $999,280

## Abstract

Abstract
The Specific Aim of this Phase IIb (Phase II competitive renewal) SBIR proposal is to advance the prototypes
we developed under our Phase I and II SBIR grants into commercial production. We will produce SBS-96
format radiation sterilizable electronically tagged sample vials that can be read at ultra-low temperatures.
Hundreds of millions of SBS-96 vials are sold each year and each of these vials must be tracked. Today, the
state of the art for sample tracking is 2D barcoded sample vials. 2D barcode sample tracking technology falls
short on many fronts, resulting in sample degradation, lost samples, and thousands of lost person hours per
year. This is a growing manpower drain on biobanks.
Robotic systems can be used to track samples but they are usually very expensive. They also reduce the sample
storage capacity of the freezers to accommodate the robotic equipment.
To address this sample tracking need, we have developed an RFID based sample tracking system. For mass
production, radiation sterilization of sample vials is important. We have developed prototypes of RFID tagged
vials that can be sterilized using radiation, are the required size for SBS-96 format vials and operate at -196 °C.
We are the frst to produce such prototype vials.
To accomplish our Specific Aim, we will carry out the following tasks: (a) Develop a commercial version of
our prototype radiation hardened tags that operate at ultra-low temperatures, (b) Design, produce, and test a
reader that can read a rack of RFID tagged SBS-96 vials, (c) Develop a commercial manufacturing method and
execute pilot production runs to incorporate the RFID tags into SBS-96 format sample vials and fnally, (d)
Establish quality control methods.
At the end of this Phase IIb work, we will have fully functional and commercial ready RFID tagged SBS-96
vials and a reader that can read a rack of vials in a few seconds.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9844006
- **Project number:** 5R44OD020162-05
- **Recipient organization:** BIO TILLION, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Hananel Davidowitz
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $999,280
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-04-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9844006

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9844006, Radiation Sterilizable, RFID Tagged Vials for Biomedical Samples (5R44OD020162-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9844006. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*