Specimen Barcode and Labeling Guide: Difference between revisions

The text printed on the barcode label is not always just the encoded characters. Sometimes the barcode label includes other identifying information about the specimen, such as institution and collection name. The barcode designer should pay special attention to distinguishing between the code itself and the information printed on the label. A good barcode contains the least best information, in order to not have to replace the barcode if the included information changes, such as taxon, and other provenance details from the label. A unique identifier, possibly with the specimen collection code and institution code are a good minimal place to be. It might be helpful to reproduce the code itself in visible human-readable characters, but care should be taken not to add extraneous text that might be confused with the encoded information. This duplication of information '''can be useful''' when a barcode reader is not handy for checking a specimen against its database record.