An apparatus and method of operation is provided for a contrast media injector having a powered drive ram. The drive ram is designed to interface with a plunger of a syringe in order to move the plunger forward and backward relative to a barrel of the syringe. The syringe, having an RF data tag associated therewith, is mounted on to the contrast media injector. Electromagnetic signals are transmitted from an electromagnetic device of the injector in response to mounting the syringe. Data is electromagnetically read from the RF data tag of the syringe using the electromagnetic device of the injector. The transmitting is terminated after the electromagnetically reading. Medical fluid is then dispensed from the syringe. Electromagnetic signals are transmitted from the electromagnetic device in response to initiation of the dispensing. Data is electromagnetically written to the RF data tag of the syringe using the electromagnetic device of the injector.