What is an HIBC barcode?
HIBC (Health Industry Bar Code) is a barcode standard developed by the Health Industry Business Communications Council (HIBCC) in 1984 to facilitate communication between manufacturers and retailers in the healthcare industry.
HIBCs are used to identify and track healthcare-related items. They support manufacturer and product codes containing up to 18 alphanumeric characters and include fields for quantity, lot number, serial number, expiration and manufacturing dates. An extended HIBC barcode format is also available, which includes additional information such as integrated hyperlinks.
The ISO 22742 Standard recommends using HIBC as a global labeling application for product packaging because it is compatible with all ISO alphanumeric symbologies and RFID.
The HIBC barcode format
HIBCs most often appear as two-dimensional Data Matrix codes (recommended), but they can also take the form of one-dimensional Code 39 or Code 128 barcodes. Their structure is as follows:
- Mandatory “+” character
- Primary code (UDI-DI / device identifier)
- Dividing “/” character
- Secondary code (UDI-PI / product identifier)
- Check digit
Applications of HIBC barcodes in healthcare
HIBCs are used on a wide range of items in the medical field, including:
- Prescription drugs: pills and liquids, including over-the-counter and prescription medications
- Medical equipment: oxygen tanks, heart monitor surgical instruments, medical devices, and supplies
- Blood products: blood bags, blood samples, and blood components
- IV bags: intravenous bags used to administer medications and fluids to patients
- Biomedical implants: pacemakers and artificial joints
- Laboratory specimens: urine samples
Benefits of using HIBC barcodes
HIBCs allow healthcare providers to quickly access important information about a patient and are a cost-effective way of identifying and tracking medical products. Their standardization makes them easy to use and compatible with existing systems. HIBC is compatible with various barcode symbologies and RFID technology and recognized by international standards organizations like ISO and CEN.
While HIBCs are not mandatory in all situations, they are strongly recommended in certain contexts, e.g., for medical device manufacturers who need to comply with UDI regulations, healthcare facilities that have standardized on HIBC for inventory management and patient safety, and when working with healthcare providers or distributors that require HIBC-compliant labeling.
Do HIBC barcodes have GTIN information?
HIBC barcodes do not contain GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) information. HIBC and GS1 (which uses GTINs) are two separate barcode standards used for product identification, especially in the healthcare industry.
While HIBC barcodes don’t contain GTIN information, they serve a similar purpose in uniquely identifying products, particularly in the healthcare sector.
Can HIBC DataMatrix barcodes be white on black?
Yes, HIBC DataMatrix barcodes can be printed as white on black (also known as inverse or reverse printing). However, some older or less advanced scanning systems might have difficulty reading inverse-printed barcodes. If you need to read inverted barcodes, make sure to go for a solution powered by machine learning like the Scanbot Barcode Scanner SDK.
