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RFID devices may harm medical equipment
In a study published in the June 25 issue of the *Journal of the American Medical Association* (JAMA), researchers warned that radio frequency identification (RFID) devices may interfere with critical medical equipment, potentially leading to dangerous situations in healthcare settings. The findings highlight growing concerns about the safety of RFID technology in clinical environments, especially as its use expands.
RFID technology is widely used in everyday life, from electronic toll collection systems to anti-theft tags in retail stores. In healthcare, it has gained attention for its potential to improve patient safety and streamline the tracking of medical supplies and devices. Applications include marking drug packaging to prevent counterfeiting and using temperature-sensitive RFID tags to monitor blood products. As RFID tags become smaller and more affordable, they are increasingly being integrated into surgical sponges, endoscopic capsules, and even endotracheal tubes.
While electronic anti-theft systems have long been known to cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) with implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, their impact on other critical care devices remains unclear. To address this, a team led by Remko van der Togt from the Free University of Amsterdam tested 41 different medical devices from 17 departments and 22 manufacturers. These included external pacemakers, ventilators, infusion pumps, dialysis machines, and more. Two types of RFID systems were evaluated: active (with batteries) and passive (without batteries).
The study conducted 123 EMI tests, resulting in 34 incidents. Of these, 22 were classified as hazardous, 2 as significant, and 10 as minor. Passive RFID systems caused more adverse events, with 63% of tests showing some form of interference. Hazardous incidents included complete shutdowns of mechanical ventilators, syringe pump failures, and disruptions in pacemaker readings.
The average distance at which EMI occurred was 11.8 inches, with hazardous events happening at an average of 9.8 inches. This suggests that proximity plays a key role in the risk posed by RFID systems to medical devices.
Despite the benefits of RFID in supply chain management and inventory control, the lack of standardized protocols in healthcare raises concerns. As RFID systems are adapted for medical use, there is a need for greater oversight and testing to ensure they do not compromise patient safety.
Experts recommend that, if RFID is to be used in intensive care units or similar environments, both updated international standards and on-site EMI testing should be mandatory. The study underscores the importance of balancing technological innovation with patient safety in the medical field.