Zebra DS8278-HC HealthCare Cordless 1D & 2D Barcode Scanner is a premium healthcare-specific handheld 1D/2D imager designed for clinical environments. It emphasizes infection control, superior scanning performance on challenging barcodes on wristbands, medications, blood bags and specimens with workflow efficiency. Healthcare providers face increasing demands for efficiency, accuracy and patient safety — while managing supply chain complexity, compliance and
Zebra DS8278-HC HealthCare Cordless 1D & 2D Barcode Scanner is a premium healthcare-specific handheld 1D/2D imager designed for clinical environments. It emphasizes infection control, superior scanning performance on challenging barcodes on wristbands, medications, blood bags and specimens with workflow efficiency. Healthcare providers face increasing demands for efficiency, accuracy and patient safety — while managing supply chain complexity, compliance and strict infection control protocols.
Main Healthcare Features:
Infection Control: Disinfectant-ready housing with smooth, crevice-free surfaces. Sealed inductive trigger and contactless (inductive) charging eliminate microbial build up points. Antimicrobial labels for extra protection. Withstands aggressive hospital cleaners.
Patient-Friendly Design: Green LED aimer (safer for NICU/eyes, reduces PTSD triggers). Intelligent illumination activates only when needed. Built-in soft lamp for workstation lighting (night rounds). Night Mode with adjustable tones, vibration, and LEDs to minimize disturbance.
Workflow Tools:
Programmable multi-function button (secondary trigger) for switching between apps (e.g., EHR to phlebotomy) without changing devices.
UDI Scan+ and Blood Bag Parse+ for single-scan parsing of complex data.
2 MP sensor for high-quality image capture + Intelligent Document Capture (IDC).
Virtual Tether (alerts for out-of-range or misplaced scanners) + Bluetooth beaconing.
Unmatched Scanning Performance - Consistent first pass capture of the toughest hospital barcodes, fewer rescans, fewer workarounds.
Industry Leading Infection Control - Crevice free design, antimicrobial labels, sealed trigger, healthcare grade plastics and contactless charging support rigorous wipe down protocols.
Intelligent Data Capture - Blood Bag Parse+, UDI Scan+ and Preferred Symbol automatically extract and format critical data in a single scan.
Quiet, Patient Friendly Design - Engineered to minimise disturbance while keeping workflows moving.
Rugged & Reliable - IP52 sealing, disinfectant ready plastics, survives multiple 6 ft drops and 2,000 tumbles — reducing TCO.
Cordless Intelligence - Zebra DS8288-HC: 25% more scans per charge vs closest competitor, swappable power sources, Virtual Tether, power gauge, Wi Fi friendly mode and multiple cradle options.
Scanning Performance: Advanced 2 MP sensor (1600x1200) with PRZM Intelligent Imaging. Excellent on damaged, low-contrast, curved, or dense codes. High motion tolerance.
Physical Characteristics of the Zebra DS8278 Cordless Model:
Dimensions (Cordless): 6.9 x 2.7 x 4.4 inches (17.6 x 6.9 x 11.1 cm) H x W x D.
Weight (Cordless with battery): 9.6 oz (272.5 g). With PowerCap™: 8.8 oz (248.3 g).
Colour: Healthcare White.
Drop Resistance: Designed for 54 drops from 6 ft (1.8 m) to concrete. Cordless: 8 ft (2.4 m) MIL-STD.
Tumble: 2,000 tumbles at 1.5 ft (0.5 m).
Sealing: IP52.
Operating Temp: 32°F to 122°F (0°C to 50°C).
Storage Temp: -40°F to 158°F (-40°C to 70°C).
Humidity: 0–95% non-condensing.
Power Options (Cordless):
PowerPrecision+ Li-Ion Battery (3500 mAh):
Up to 100,000 scans per charge (or ~108 hours operating time).
Supports 14-hour shifts with quick top-up (e.g., 90 min over USB for a full shift).
PowerCap™ Supercapacitor (1000 F Li-ion):
Up to 6,000 scans per charge (~6.7 hours).
Ultra-fast charge (ready for 100 scans in ~35 seconds).
Charging: Contactless inductive (easier to clean). Multiple cradle options (standard/desktop or presentation). Power gauge for quick checks.
Performance & Decoding:
Image Sensor: 1600 x 1200 pixels.
Field of View: 48° H x 36° V.
Aiming: Circular 524 nm green LED.
Illumination: Two warm white LEDs.
Motion Tolerance: Up to 160 in/s (handheld) for 13 mil UPC.
Minimum Print Contrast: 16%.
Decode Capabilities:
1D: Code 39, Code 128, UPC/EAN, GS1 DataBar, etc.
2D: QR, DataMatrix, PDF417, Aztec, etc.
OCR, Digimarc, GS1 Digital Link, Postal codes.
Wide decode range (e.g., 13 mil UPC from near contact to ~22+ inches).
Connectivity:
Bluetooth 5.2 (Class 1: up to 330 ft / 100 m; Class 2: 33 ft / 10 m) with Serial Port and HID profiles.
Supported Hosts: USB, RS232.
FIPS 140-3 certified.
Cradles & Accessories:
Standard/Desktop Cradle and Presentation Cradle (compact, magnet-assisted).
Gooseneck Intellistand, document capture stands, spare batteries/PowerCaps.
Regulatory & Durability:
Compliant with medical EMI/RFI (EN 60601-1-2), LED safety, electrical safety standards.
3-year warranty (cordless models); longer for corded.
Ideal Uses & Applications in Healthcare:
Positive Patient Identification (PPID)
Medication administration
Specimen tracking
Pharmacy & lab workflows
Blood bag / UDI scanning
Patient admissions / EHR access
Operating room inventory
The DS82-HC Series (successor to the DS8100-HC series) offers improved performance, better power options, and stronger infection control features. It integrates well with Zebra DNA tools for management (123Scan, remote management, analytics)
