HIBC 条形码：医疗行业条形码标准
The Health Industry Bar Code (HIBC) standard — structure, primary and secondary data formats, and when to use HIBC vs GS1 in healthcare.
HIBC Barcodes: Health Industry Bar Code Standard
The Health Industry Bar Code (GS1 in hospitals." data-category="Healthcare & Pharmaceutical">HIBC) standard is an alternative to GS1 for identifying healthcare products. Developed by the Health Industry Business Communications Council (HIBCC), HIBC is used by some medical device manufacturers and healthcare organizations as their primary identification system.
HIBC vs GS1
| Feature | HIBC | GS1 |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing body | HIBCC | GS1 |
| Primary barcode | Code 128, Code 39, Data Matrix | GS1-128, Data Matrix with GS1 AIs for pharma and food traceability." data-category="2D & Matrix Symbologies">GS1 DataMatrix |
| Data structure | Primary + Secondary | Application Identifiers |
| UDI accredited | Yes (FDA and EU) | Yes (FDA and EU) |
| Industry adoption | ~10% of healthcare | ~90% of healthcare |
| Cost | Free labeler ID | Annual GS1 membership |
HIBC Data Structure
HIBC uses a two-part data structure:
Primary Data (Identification):
+[LIC][Product/Catalog Number][Unit of Measure][Check Character]
+is the flag character identifying HIBC- LIC = Labeler Identification Code (4 alphanumeric characters)
- Product number assigned by the manufacturer
- Unit of measure (0-9)
Secondary Data (Variable Data):
+[Quantity][Date][Lot][Serial][Check Character]
- Quantity of items
- Date (expiry, manufacturing, or both)
- Lot/batch number
- Serial number
Encoding in Barcodes
HIBC data can be encoded in multiple symbologies:
| Symbology | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Code 128 | Standard package labels |
| Code 39 | Legacy compatibility |
| Data Matrix | Small labels, UDI compliance |
| Concatenated Code 128 | Primary + secondary in one symbol |
Concatenated Symbols
HIBC allows primary and secondary data to be encoded in a single barcode:
+H1234567890/DDDDLLLLLLLLL/SSSSSSSSS+check
This reduces label space requirements compared to separate primary and secondary barcodes.
UDI Compliance with HIBC
HIBC is an FDA-accredited UDI issuing agency. A HIBC-based UDI encodes:
- DI: Primary data (LIC + product number)
- PI: Secondary data (lot, serial, expiry, manufacturing date)
The HIBC-encoded UDI is registered in FDA GUDID and EU EUDAMED the same as a GS1-based UDI.
When to Choose HIBC
Consider HIBC if: - Your organization already uses HIBC (migration cost outweighs benefits) - You need free labeler ID assignment (no annual membership fees) - Your trading partners accept HIBC-encoded products
Consider GS1 if: - You sell to major retailers or distributors (most require GS1) - You need broad scanner and system compatibility - Your trading partners are GS1-based
Implementation
- Apply for a Labeler Identification Code from HIBCC (free)
- Assign product numbers using your LIC
- Design labels with HIBC-formatted barcodes
- Register UDI-DI in GUDID and/or EUDAMED
- Implement secondary data encoding for lot, serial, and dates
- Verify barcode quality per ISO/IEC standards