Bar Code Safety

Easy-to-read packaging is an important safety factor in reducing drug administration errors. UDL offers consistent, highly legible labeling as well as a space-saving package design for all our oral solid products.

What's more, UDL led the industry in providing NDC format machine readable linear bar codes on the individual unit dose blisters we produce. We have integrated bar code labeling at all levels of our packaging that adheres to the Health Industry Business Communications Council (HIBCC) standards as well as satisfies the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's bar code labeling mandate that went into effect in April 2004.

UDL has been printing bar codes on our unit dose blisters for over 15 years, long before the industry was ready to use them. We have never faltered in our commitment to meeting the highest level of print quality. We have established in-process quality checks into our packaging operation that continually monitor the quality and scannability of our bar codes. This allows UDL to make adjustments and take corrective actions to assure our customers that when a  UDL blister is scanned, they can be confident it will work.

The specific format and information contained in each bar code label is as follows:

Unit Dose Blister, Punch Card, Unit Carton Label

  • Code 128 NDC Number

Robot-Rx™ Ready Blister

  • Code 128 NDC Number, Expiration Date

Unit Carton Side Label

  • UPC-A NDC Number
  • Code 128 Expiration Date and Lot Number

Shipping Label

  • Interleaved 2 of 5 NDC Number
  • Code 128 Quantity per Inner Pack, Expiration Date and Lot Number
  • Code 128 Case Quantity

Bar coding means more comprehensive control and time savings in the pharmacy and most importantly helps assure that the 5 Rights of Medication Administration (Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route of Administration, Right Time) are followed from receiving through patient administration.  UDL is proud to have been the first in the industry to fully integrate bar coding on our products.

To view a sample of our Bar Code Formats Click Here

To view a sample of our Robot-Rx™ Ready Package Click Here

To view a sample of our Unit Dose Bar Code Click Here

To assist our customers in integrating bedside bar code scanning, UDL has developed a data base that can easily be uploaded into an in-house IT system. Once loaded, each different UDL bar code should read and cross reference to the appropriate product information.

To request a copy of UDL's bar code data base Click Here