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Constructing the Registry Tunnel’s 2D Data Matrix

The Kit Check Registry Service tunnel reads GS1 compliant 2D Data Matrixes containing four principal data elements, which are identified using GS1 Application Identifiers:

  1. GTIN-14
  2. Lot Number
  3. Expiration Date (YYMMDD)
  4. Serial Number

 

For additional information regarding how to correctly encode the 2D Data Matrix, refer to GS1’s Data Matrix Guideline.

GTIN-14

The GTIN-14 is a Global Trade Identification Number consisting of 14-digits that is encoded with the NDC of the drug product. The first digit consists of the ‘Indicator Digit’, which is zero for unit of use packaging, but will vary for unit of sale packaging. The second and third digits consist of the ‘Company Prefix’ with is always ’03’ when the GTIN contains an NDC. Digits four through thirteen contain the 10-digit NDC while the last digit is reserved for the ‘Check Digit’ (represented by an ‘x’ below). For example:

Unit of use packaging NDC: 1111-2222-33

GTIN-14: 0031111222233x

The Application Identifier ’01’ is to identify GTINs, meaning that the above GTIN-14 would be represented as:

String: 010031111222233x

Human Readable: (01) 003 1111 2222 33 x

Lot Number

The lot number is a variable length string with a maximum of 20 alphanumeric characters and uses the Application Identifier ’10’. Since this is a variable length string, it must be followed by a separator character, which can either be ‘FNC1’ or ‘<GS>’ (ASCII value 29 (decimal), 1D hexadecimal)). These separator characters are never displayed in the human readable expression of the string. For example, a Lot Number of ABCD1234 is expressed as:

String: 10ABCD1234FNC1

Human Readable: (10) ABCD1234

Expiration Date

The expiration date is expressed as ‘YYMMDD’ and uses the Application Identifier ’17’. An expiration date of December 9, 1999 is expressed as:

String: 17991209

Human Readable: (17) 991209

Serial Number

The serial number is a variable length string with a maximum of 20 alphanumeric characters and uses the Application Identifier ’21’. As with lot numbers, this variable length string must be followed by a separator character, unless the string is the last element string encoded in the data matrix. For example, a serial number of 1234567890 is expressed as:

String: 211234567890FNC1

Human Readable: (21) 1234567890

Complete String

All of the elements above can be strung together in the following way for a correctly encoded string.

String: 010031111222233x1799120910ABCD1234FNC1211234567890

Human Readable: (01) 0031111222233x (17) 991209 (10) ABCD1234 (21) 1234567890