Barcodes
Medical packaging uses several kinds of barcode. The scanner reads the common ones, and pulls out whatever facts each one carries.
Who can: Owner, Admin, Member, Inventory manager
Types the scanner reads
Supported barcode formats
- GS1 DataMatrix — the small square code on most medical packaging
- QR Code
- EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E — retail barcodes
- Code 128, Code 39 — including HIBCC (+) codes
- ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5)
Anything else won't decode. Type the code instead.
What a code can give you
What the scanner reads
Medical labels pack several facts into one barcode. The scanner reads:
- GTIN the product number inside the barcode (the digits after (01) on a GS1 label). The same for every box of that product.
- LOT the batch the item was made in, printed next to LOT. Recalls are by lot.
- EXP the expiry date.
- SN a serial number unique to this one item, printed next to SN. Not every product has one.
- REF the maker's catalog number, printed next to the REF symbol on the label (also called catalog # or vendor ref #).
GS1 codes (the square DataMatrix, or long barcodes with (01), (17), (10), (21), (240) in the text below) carry all of these. HIBCC codes start with a + and carry the maker's product number, and often lot, expiry and serial too; those extras are only used when the code's check character is right, so a misread can't invent a lot.
When a label has several codes (a GS1 code next to a QR link or an internal part number), the scanner picks the GS1 code with the most data: expiry first, then lot, then GTIN.
GS1, HIBCC and plain codes
| Kind | Looks like | What the app reads |
|---|---|---|
| GS1 | A small square DataMatrix, or a long barcode with (01), (17), (10) in the text below | The product number (GTIN), lot, expiry, serial and often the REF |
| HIBCC | Starts with a + | The maker's product number. Lot, expiry and serial too, when the code passes its check |
| Plain retail (EAN, UPC) | A number only | Just the number. There's no lot or expiry |
Good to know:
- A GS1 expiry with day "00" is read as the last day of that month.
- A lot or serial longer than 20 characters is ignored, and so is a REF over 30. The rest of the code is still used.
- A HIBCC code's extras are used only when its check character is right. A misread can't invent a lot.
- A HIBCC code is matched by its product number, so the same product keeps matching across lots and serials.
- When a label has several barcodes, such as a GS1 code next to a QR link, the scanner picks the GS1 code with the most data.
A code with no expiry is handled by your site's saving setting. See How scans are saved. If a code is damaged or a type isn't supported, type the code instead.