Labels on petridishes are generally a sign for automatation already started. If the label contains a barcode this could be used for naming the plate within the LT counter system too. Thus typing of the name of the plate, a time consuming part of sample handling and source of faults can be avoided. The LT counter is easily able to integrate barcode reading as additional option. To provide an optimised barcode reader some samples of the label with barcode, technical specification of the barcode (if available) and information on the nomenclature used should be available from LemnaTec..

But in detail labels can even provide some problems.

Optimally for image acquisition barcode is to be found at the side of the petridish as this opens all options for choosing the best illumination. Placement of the barcodes on the lid of the petridish is good as long as lid may be removed for image acquisition. If the barcode is on the lid not to be removed or on the bottom two different options are available. If the colonies have good contrast and have darker colour than the background they may be counted in Backlight after special adaptation of the image processing. For dark colonies, which may be counted on white background with top light, a white insert for the top light masks is available. This makes white labels almost invisible. In this case plates with label on the lid may be counted up side down while plates with label on the bottom will be counted in normal position. For pale colonies on almost clear agar the only option is to use preferably backlight and to extrapolate the number of colonies in the area of the label, as they could not be counted (except for labels based on black paper would be available).