Lilly introduces barcoding on insulin vials

The barcodes have been included on Lilly’s insulin product outer packaging in the past, but this marks the first time the barcodes are being included on the vial labels.

The bar coding is part of a larger effort within the health care industry to decrease medication errors. In February 2004, the FDA issued a new regulation that requires all new pharmaceuticals to be barcoded upon launch in the marketplace and all existing medications be barcoded within two years of the ruling.

Lilly completed its barcoding of insulin vials 18 months before the FDA’s deadline, and the barcodes appear on vials for nine insulin products.

Barcode labeling on prescription drugs is projected to reduce error by 500,000 instances over the next 20 years with an estimated savings of $93 billion in additional health care costs, patient pain and suffering and lost wages, according to the FDA.

“With the new bar coded vials, doctors can have greater confidence that the drug they are prescribing is being given to the correct patient and at the correct time,” said Scott Jacober, medical advisor at Lilly.

“With insulin, the vials are often removed from outer packaging. Bar coding the vial itself is so integral to enhancing safety in our hospitals,” said Michael Cohen, president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.