Abstract: A sensing system, for use in the identification of colored indicia defined on a body in a series arrangement, includes at least one flash lamp means electrically energizable to produce a burst of light to illuminate at least one of the indicia at a high level compared to the ambient light level, at least one photo-electric means disposed to receive light reflected from at least one of the illuminated indicia and operative to produce a sensor signal for light having a predetermined color, and detector means coupled to the photo-electric means and operative to be programmed to produce a test signal when the sensor signal is within a predetermined class of signals.