What type of numbers are used to ensure that the correct drug in the correct form and strength is dispensed?

The National Drug Code (NDC) numbers are essential for identifying specific medications, including their form and strength. The NDC is a unique three-segment number assigned to every drug approved by the FDA, and it serves as a universal method for pharmacies and healthcare providers to communicate about medications.

The first segment identifies the drug manufacturer, the second segment identifies the specific product (including drug formulation, strength, and dosage form), and the third segment identifies the package size. This structured format allows for precise identification of medications, minimizing the risk of errors in dispensing the wrong drug.

Other types of numbers, such as UPC, ISBN, and SKU numbers, serve different purposes. UPC numbers are primarily used for retail products to facilitate automated checkout processes, ISBN numbers are specific to books and publications, and SKU numbers are used for inventory management but do not convey specific pharmaceutical details like the NDC does. Thus, the NDC numbers are the most appropriate for ensuring that the correct drug, in the correct form and strength, is dispensed.