These two words get used interchangeably, but they mean completely different things. Conflating them is a substantial compliance risk. Let’s sort it out.
- Verification is an objective, ISO Standards-based evaluation of a barcode’s print quality. It’s like penmanship or legibility. If you can’t read it, it doesn’t matter if it’s brilliant.
- Validation checks the data content for correct prefixing and data-type. Some data fields have a fixed length, some allow encoding alphanumeric characters, and of course, the data must be correct. If it doesn’t make sense, being able to read it doesn’t matter.
To properly evaluate a barcode, both of these factors must be tested. A poorly printed barcode with perfect data fails; a well printed barcode with incorrectly parsed data fails. Compliance requires both to pass.
This is particularly important in highly regulated industries such as healthcare. But it is also important in less critical applications, like consumer goods. Even a lowly UPC has validation requirements for the encoded data. For example, if the barcode for vanilla-flavored yogurt is printed on a container of unflavored yogurt, the item sold and the re-inventory order are inaccurate. Disrupting but not life-threatening.
Validation errors in healthcare and pharma are much more serious.
Proper barcode testing must include verification and validation.
Most (but not all) barcode verifiers also validate the data structure of a barcode. Knowing the difference is the first and most important step in getting and staying compliant on your primary and secondary packaging.
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