Affiliations: [a] The Axia Institute, Michigan State University, USA
| [b] Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Bahar Aliakbarian, The Axia Institute, Michigan State University, 1910 West St. Andrews Rd, Midland, MI 48640, USA. Tel.: +1 989 423 2049; E-mail: bahara@msu.edu.
Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a burgeoning technology pivotal for optimizing intricate supply chains. Although its potential benefits in healthcare and pharmaceuticals are substantial, RFID implementation in these sectors has been slow-moving. Surprisingly, limited research has probed RFID performance on pharmaceutical products and their packaging. This study aims to explore the influence of diverse liquid drug formulations on RFID performance, utilizing a pre-optimized Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID tag. Five distinct drug formulations, encompassing water, saline, and lipids, were studied, alongside deionized (DI) water and empty vials as control subjects. The products were transferred to separate vials, each affixed with a pre-optimized UHF RFID tag. Performance evaluations, including Threshold Sweep, Orientation Sweep, and Population Analysis, were conducted to assess tag readability, focusing on sensitivity, backscatter, and theoretical read range. The results underscore how the composition of different pharmaceutical drug formulations significantly impact RFID tag readability in a controlled, reflection-free environment. These findings provide valuable insights for designing intelligent packaging to enhance the readability of RFID-tagged pharmaceutical products.
Keywords: Drug formulation, sensitivity, backscatter, RFID performance, pharmaceutical supply chain
