Air sample tracking system and method

1. A system for tracking subjects that collect airborne particles, each of the subjects including a subject identification tag encoded with identification information identifying the each subject, the system comprising:

an identification reader that scans one of the subject identification tags and decodes the identification information encoded within the scanned subject identification tag;

a computer that receives and stores the decoded identification information; and

an air sampling system that draws air over one of the subjects during air sampling.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air sampling system comprises:

a plurality of air sampling devices, each configured to draw air over one of the subjects during air sampling; and

a controller connected to each of the air sampling devices via vacuum lines that controls air flow rates at each of the air sampling devices.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a plurality of inline flow control modules, each corresponding to one of the plurality of air sampling devices, that separately measure the air flow realized at the corresponding air sampling device,

wherein the controller is connected to each of the air sampling devices via one of the inline flow control modules.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the subjects are respectively disposed in one or more locations, each location comprising a location identification tag encoded with location information;

the identification reader:

scans the location identification tag in the location of the subject that includes the scanned subject identification tag; and

decodes the location information encoded within the scanned location identification tag; and

the computer receives and store the decoded location information.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computer compares the decoded location information to the decoded identification information to determine whether the subject that includes the scanned subject identification tag is properly located.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the computer transmits an indication of whether the subject that includes the scanned identification tag is properly located.

7. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a database for storing scanned information received from the identification reader,

wherein the computer stores the decoded identification information and the decoded location information in a record in the database.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the computer stores a time stamp in the record in the database.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer receives and stores data obtained during the period when air is drawn over each subject.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the data includes the air flow rate at each of the subjects.

11. A method for tracking subjects that collect airborne particles, each of the subjects including a subject identification tag encoded with identification information identifying the each subject, the method comprising:

scanning one of the subject identification tags by an identification reader;

decoding the identification information encoded within the scanned subject identification tag;

storing the decoded identification information; and

drawing air over the subject that includes the scanned subject identification tag.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein drawing air over the subject comprises:

providing a plurality of air sampling devices, each configured to draw air over one of the subjects during air sampling;

providing a controller connected to each of the air sampling devices via vacuum lines; and

separately controlling, by the controller, air flow rates at each of the air sampling devices.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling air flow rates further comprises:

providing a plurality of inline flow control modules, each inline flow control module corresponding to one of the plurality of air sampling devices, wherein the controller is connected to each of the air sampling devices via one of the inline flow control modules; and

separately measuring, by the inline air flow control modules, the air flow rates at each of the air sampling devices.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more subjects are respectively disposed in one or more locations, each location comprising a location identification tag encoded with location information, the method further comprising:

scanning, by the identification reader, the location identification tag in the location of the subject that includes the scanned subject identification tag;

decoding the location information encoded within the scanned location identification tag; and

storing the decoded location information.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

comparing the decoded location information to the decoded identification information to determine whether the subject that includes the scanned subject identification tag is properly located.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

transmitting an indication of whether the subject that includes the scanned subject identification tag is properly located.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

storing the decoded identification information and the decoded location information in a record in a database.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

storing a time stamp in the record in the database.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising

receiving and storing data obtained during the period when air is drawn over the subject.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the data includes the air flow rate at the subject.