While the rest of the world awaits the GS1 Digital Link Sunrise 2027, a collaboration with GS1 and Google will do much of the same in healthcare. Although it lacks a name, this functionality provides trusted medical data to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals by scanning Data Matrix barcodes already on medical devices and pharmaceutical products. Google Lens will be used for this new feature.

Google Lens

Scanning the barcode with a smartphone will display important medical product information, including the patient leaflet with usage directions, contraindications, and other critical data.

Google Lens already provides this capability—what’s new is its adoption in healthcare. GS1 is working with pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to share their product information online.

GS1 Data Matrix

GS1 Data Matrix is the global standard for drug and medical device identification and traceability. This new capability puts important safety and decision-making information in patients’ hands while supporting sustainability by eliminating the printed leaflet — a document folded into a postage-stamp-sized lump.  Although it contains important information, it is often discarded with the open box.  This alone saves about 12 million trees and eliminates significant greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainability

“The ability to scan a GS1 Data Matrix directly with a smartphone camera is a breakthrough for global healthcare systems,” says Glen Hodgson, Vice President, Healthcare at GS1

. “It means the same trusted standards that underpin medicine identification and traceability will deliver trusted information directly into the hands of those who need it most.”

This new collaboration also supports the important and often-neglected principle that good health and well-being are primarily the patient’s responsibility.

Responsibility where it Belongs

This exciting development is another example of barcode technology’s adaptability, which has continued to evolve and remain relevant for 50 years. At the same time, it is important to note that adaptability and relevance depend on quality. As barcodes gain new and critical functionality, it is increasingly important that they scan correctly.

There is a lot on the line. We can help.

Recommended Posts

3db Barcode Testimonial

Our company (an advanced software company) recently worked with Barcode Test to source a barcode verifier.  Not long ago, we were awarded a contract requiring products to be marked with IUIDs in accordance with MIL-STD-130.  For that standard, marking labels must pass a verification test that evaluates many variables (contrast, size, clarity, syntax, modularity, and more).  After a thorough search, we reduced our options to a select few.

In our search for a verifier, the Axicon line caught our attention.  Barcode Test is our regional reseller for this product.   From the beginning, they were very prompt with their responses.  We ended up having a quick call with John Nachtrieb to go over our needs.  John was extremely easy to work with and provided a lot of great information.  He was very knowledgeable on the matter and was quick to offer up a demo unit (free of charge).

Upon receiving the demo verifier and testing it, a few questions arose.  John joined a call with us and answered all our questions.  Ultimately, the Axicon verifier wasn’t the best fit for us, so we shipped the demo back.  John was completely understanding.  A few weeks later, Barcode Test reached back out with another possible verifier for us to try.  While they didn’t sell that brand, they just wanted to help us find the best option that met our needs. They even offered to send us the unit that they have in-house to see if it worked to our liking. 

Barcode Test is truly a great company to work with.  Their service and willingness to help the customer are far beyond what you typically get from other companies.  They are experts in barcode quality assurance and seem willing to help in any way they can (even if that means not getting a sale and recommending another option that better fits the customer’s needs).  If anyone is in the market for barcode verification/scanning services or products, I would highly recommend giving Barcode Test a call.

Regards,

Production Manager