A Unique Approach To Primary Container Identification And Traceability

Unique identification for drugs or medical devices can help guard against problems ranging from medication errors to counterfeiting. Track-and-trace barcodes provide traceability from manufacturer to patient and can also lead to more efficient and accurate product recalls.

But all too often it's a different story once a product is removed from its packaging. The barcode will usually be on the secondary packaging, so the traceability only lasts until the item is unpacked. And even if the product has a label on it – as is often the case with glass containers – it can easily be damaged. Also, of course, putting the finished product inside a secondary box is the last step of the manufacturing process – so a barcode on the box provides no traceability on the production line.

Applying a barcode to glass pharmaceutical containers prior to fill-finish would allow tracking throughout the filling and sterilization processes. This could help identify issues within the process, enable faster root cause analysis and, ultimately, help companies improve their processes and save money.