Barcode encyclopedia : Symbology hibc

Health Industry Bar Code

Barcode in Health Care

Basic information about HIBC as Health care code ....

Developed in year 1984 in USA as a solution for world product tracking. In Europe uses 1987...
Developed from Code39, coding numeric and alphanumeric data, but for some problems was developed HIBC...
HIBC as a data structure is still valid without any change still offering the features of capatibility,safety, compactness.
used in medical devices, pharmaceutical products...

HIBC contain Data identification system and EAN Application idenifier system.

from year 1987
compressed data structure, unique data structure
Symbology independent ...
Capable for users product alpha numeric codes up to 13 characters.
Maintained by EHIBCC Technical Committee and its industries memebers
Used in several market segments, Health Care, Precision Machanics&Optical Industries,Chemical Industry,Electronic Industry, .... etc...

The best system is the system which is easiest and cheapest to implmenent. Barcode shell be a tool for optimatization and for gainingbest benefit. It has to be amortised within one or two years. The HIBC system is designed not to change a numbering system, but just as a medium to carry existing item information for safe automatic data capture.

Advantages

variable lenght, alphanumeric
Not discrete, no space between cahrs....
Optimization is offered by HIBC only by data compression which is a condensed representation of the data.
HIBC is best system for product marking, in the reason, the HIBC is the best system for unique product marking.
2 dimensional barcodes can be used for small or smallest labels ...
error free, correct and safe
marked products is identified quickly and clearly anytime and anywhere.
Barcode meets all marking requirements resulting from legal regulations in the health sector,including expiry dates.Finally, in using this barcode it is possible to integrate using serial number in the product marking.
correct and error free data recording
direct communication between electronic unit and medium...
real time reaction
batch steering
steering of transport units
control of expiry dates
easy control of incoming and outgouing materials
steering of return shipments

HIBC originally was developed for use in health industries, medical devices,pharmaceutical products, etc.

alpha-numeric structure
different part number system can be accomodated
computer based connection of primary and secondary code
optimal use of space because of different code designs
international explicitness

Distribution and trade

Automatic indentifiocation of :

product
packaging unit
handling unit consisting of different, sometimes individually marked products
dispatch unit
In future: sense for the dental dealers which have guaraantee trouble-free order processing.
for dental dealers: start examining the possible symbologies and data structure or the barcode early.

HIBC, also offers valuable support in buildingup a quality management system. Since dental dealers are becoming more interested in systematic qualitymanagenent systems, the corresponding goals wll be easier to reach with an automatic marking system.
Main goals are:

Increasing the reliability of deliveries
reducingtransport and delivery times
eliminating mistakes
high transparency of current status of goods
fast processing of complaints

HIBC Technical part

The Technical part of the HIBC is targetting to the HIBC Data Structure for product marking. It contains variable selection criteria for symbologies. IMHO very good.

Product marking

Data strucure is developed for product marking
contain variable selection criteria for symbologies
Contains also "Multi Industry Trasport Label"

Product marking

most flexible, compatible and secure

compacr data structure,combining Product code with Manufacturer identification,Charge/Serial refference, Expiration date, ....

defines "primary code" and "secondary code".Primary code contain LIC (Labeler Identification Code) and the product code. Secondary part contain data as Serial number, Expiration date ...

HIBC data structure is symnbology independend. Recommended for full capacity, spacea and safety.

Developed on code39, but for better numeric compression is used Code128, because Code 128 compress two digits into one symbol. Chars no, for digital code is Code128 better...
if you have some troubles with capacity, you can use CodablockF, small packagesa without problems.

ID Mark for HIBC Standard

The plus sign "+"

Labeler/location identification code

4 digit, a/n, issued by EHIBCC

Product/Article code

variable 1 to 13 digit , a/n, issued by the supplier

Unit of measure

1 digit numeric

Quantity

optional 2 or 5 numeric

Expiration date

YYMM, .... etc.

Charge/Serial number

variable 0 to 13 digit

Security elementents

Check digit

1 digit modlulo 43

Link character

1 digit modulo 43 for conecting connecting primary and secondary code properly

Data concatenation

COBABLOCK structure to concatenate separated barcode rows for space optimization reasons.

The HIBC specification is avaikabke with the EHIBCC offices in Europe and with HIBCC in USA.
The HIBC standard recognizes the integration of UCC/EAN product codes.

HIBC barcode in detail

HIBC = primary segment and secondary segment. Allways primary segment begin with sign "+". This is recognized identifier for this baqcode type.

HIBC Primary data structure

labeler of the ihem
the item
packanging number

After the sign "+" and the (LIC) Labeler Identification code, next 1 to 13 chracters is Product Catalog Number (PCN), one digit of measure identifier (U/M),, single check digit and one link character enceod.

+	HIBC Supplier Labeling Flag Character
I	Labeler Identification Code (LIC) is alphanumeric and the first character is allways the alphabetic character.
P	Labelers Product of Catalog Numberaplhabetic data.
U	Unit of Measure ID 0 though 9, where 0 is for unit-of-use-items, 1 to 8 are used to inidicate different packages levels...above the unit-of-use 9 is used for variable quantity informtation is encoded optiobnlally with the secondary symbol.
L	Check and link character L. Applies only if secondary data segment is encoded in a separate symbol. Calculated from the above characters according the standard Code39 modulo 43 check digit calculation.

HIBC Secondary data structure

The secondary code might be printed separately of the primary data Can be connected with character "L" or one barcode following in the primary segment.
The secondary data segment is variable and flexible, allowing recognition of manufacturers codification mechanismsl.

Field Descriptor	Field legth	Filed descripion
+	1	HIBC Supplier labelng flag character"+" is applied, if the secondary data segment is printed with a separate barcode, but not is use primary and secondary barcode is contatenated as one.
R	1,2 or 5	Quality/Date/Refernce identifier Numerics Of the character in the secondary segment is "R", than R is fixed digit Julian date. No Quantiy/Lot/Batch/Serial is no present. "$" : if the irst character is "$" and the second character is alphanumeric, than the quantity and date fields are not used. "$$" : If the two characters are "$$" then the next digit specifies quantity and date format
Q	0,3 or 6	Quantity field format indicator followed by two or five digit quantity.Use after the "$$"
D	0 or 5-9	Date fields, for use after the "$$", (includes data format field identificaor0
B	0-13	Charge/Serisl (Batch) number field
L	1	Link character: Duplication of the last character from primary data element.Primary data elements "L" apply only if the secondary data element is printed as a separate barcode symbol. "L" is does not appear, if the Primary and Secondary fields are printed as one barcode symbol.
C	1	Check character: Calculated from above characters according the standard Code39 Modulo 43 check digit calculation. The check calculations includes the primary data segment, if encoded with the same symbolas one barcode as linear or 2D barcode.

Complete barcode and separated into parts : +E234MEDIX12Y0/9901510X3C

+	E234	MEDIX12Y	0	/	99015	10X3	C
HIBCsupplier labeling Flag character "+"	Labeler identification code	Product of Catalog Number	Units of measure	Separator between Primary and Secondary field	Date, option Julian calendar 5 digits YYJJJJ	Charge/Serial number	Check chraracter

The Code39 or Code 128 are used for lower data volume.
For large sized barcodes is used 2D code CodablockF.

Barcode symbologies

The HIBC data structure is build to be symbology independent to by carried by a selection of barcodes.

Suitable are alphanumeric symbologies :Code 39, Code128, Ean 13, Ean 128, stacked barcode CodablockF, 2D barcode Matrix.

Code 128 : all ASCII characters, if three or more digits is in one section, compression is starting. Two digits is coded as one symbol, compression 2:1.
If code is large, better is use 2D or stacked barcode.
Code 39 : encoded only first 43 characters from alphabet, numeric and some special chars as $,+,/,...
Barcode width is not very good, Code128 is better, because use full ASCII table, use digital compression ...
CodablockF is stacked symbology, use Code 128 in more rows to save space. One long Code128 is parsed to two or more smaller codes printed in one row, each parsed barcode have your own row number, check digit and is printed first under second, etc...
Standard scanners read it easy, reading no problem, because scanner complete barcode after reading and from row number complete this code to good sequention.
Ean 13, UPC, ... is used in consumer products. Can contain two or five adiitional digits, used in periodical, books, music, ...
Matrix code is pixel oriented 2D barcode, more data to small place :-)

Data security

If used Code 39, is used checksum modulo 43. There is bad reading cca. 1:500.000
By using Code 128 or CodablockF (this is 2 D version of Code128) , problem is smaller...
Using Matrix or QR Code is no problem. This codes have implemented Reed Solomon error correction, your barcode can be destroyed from 5-95%, error correction solve this. But 95% level of error correction is small data size, 5% error correction = large data, but lowest secure :-) Bad reading is cca. 1:1.000.000.000

HIBC in production process

As a starting point typical references of data capture within the production flow might be selected and applied with the related ANSI/FACT identifiers.
`

W	Work order number
1H	Employee Identification Code
1L	Location/Production line
1D...	Date ... YYMMDD, etc...
1P	Item ID Code assigned by the supplier
1T	Charge/Serial number-Traceability code
Q	Quantity