Quickly identifying pills and other capsules can be the difference between life and death in poison control centers and hospitals. Today, imprint information must be present on all approved drugs and medications. Read on to discover the importance of pharmaceutical imprint code.
How Are Pills Identified?
One of the most common forms of pill identification is through physical-chemical identifiers, or PCIDs. These substances are put into pills to help with verification, and they can be pigments, dyes, flavors, or inks. If a pill should have one of these substances and does not, pharmacies can quickly determine that the pill is counterfeit.
Another form of identification that the Food and Drug Administration mandates is an imprint code. All over-the-counter and prescription oral medications must have some form of imprint. These identifier markings are applied with a nondestructive laser pill marking process.
Identification
Identification is essential for a few reasons. The main benefit of identifiable pills is as an anti-counterfeiting measure. The indelible markings on pills are incredibly difficult to fake without industry-grade technology, so hospitals and pharmacies can immediately tell when something is wrong with a pill.
In addition, quick identification can save lives. Pills are small and can skitter away from you unexpectedly—when a pill gets mixed in with others, identification numbers are critical to ensure the pill goes back into the right place.
What Happens When a Pill Has No Code?
A pill without a code is not always a sign of danger. Unapproved medications like vitamins or supplements may look like pills, but they will not have identifiers. If you’re confident that you have an unidentified pill, it could be an illegal drug, counterfeit drug, or medication from a foreign country. Do not take the pill, and inform your pharmacy if it came from them.
Now that you know the importance of pharmaceutical imprint codes, ensure you work with a reputable company that can provide you with the laser pill marking technology you need.
