What is that funny image on my medicine?

[helvella]

Many will have noticed an image which is a bit like a barcode on our medicine packages recently. (When I say recently, I am not sure when it started, but at least many months.)

I was sure that it included the batch and expiry information but was unsure of the rest. And I did not know whether we could actually use it ourselves. Sometimes things are not available outside an industry.

After a deal of searching and testing, I have produced a new document to explain (I hope) everything you need to know. *** Including what app will read and interpret the code. ***

dropbox.com/s/cd7ylvg14hms5...

[Marz]

Could be it's the governments new tracking system - keeping an eye 😷 Leave the box at home along with your phone ... !!

[jimh111]

Most likely a QR Code. Download QR Code Reader on your smartphone, open the App and aim your mobile 'phone at it and it will usually take you to a website, probably the manufacturer's website. I have one on my Thybon 20 Henning L-T3 pack but it just decodes to a product number so is perhaps only for manufacturer use.

[helvella in reply to jimh111]

It is NOT a QR code. It is a 2D GS1 Data Matrix.

It is, of course, possible that some QR apps also have the ability to read these codes but the one on my phone did not. Even several Data Matrix reader applications were unable to make sense of the code (it was just a string of characters).

[jimh111 in reply to helvella]

I'm very impressed! If not much wiser. My QR reader read the one on my L-T3 box but not this one.

[Hillwoman]

Interesting, although I hope there will always be an obvious expiry date on medicine packets that won't need a smartphone to reveal it (I don't own a smartphone).

[helvella in reply to Hillwoman]

The intent, so far as I can see at present, is to enable quick, reliable automatic scanning by adding the Data Matrix - not replacing the readable form.

Using Optical Character Recognition to read the human readable characters would (I think) be slower, use more complex and expensive scanners, and not have the same built-in verification techniques.

I think many would be uneasy about getting rid of the readable form because it provides a double-check.

But the use of the codes (10), (17), etc., means you have to guess that the number that looks like a date really is the expiry date. Or check my document!

[Alexkjones]

It’s a gs1 bar code. It lets the industry and nhs track batches of meds Eg if their was a recall they can find the meds quicker.

[Framboise]

I think they're now also stamped on babies when they're born

[RedApple in reply to Framboise]

🤣

[LivingWithHT in reply to Framboise]

Well, at least that way parents can’t report missing babies anymore.

[Framboise in reply to LivingWithHT]

True!