HIBC

HIBC stands for Health Industry Bar Code, a barcode standard used in the healthcare sector to label and identify products, shipments, and related items. It was developed by the Health Industry Bar Code Coding Consortium (HIBCC), an organization formed to improve accuracy and efficiency in healthcare labeling and distribution. The standard has been in use since the late 20th century and remains a common labeling framework in North American healthcare settings.

The HIBC standard supports two primary linear barcode symbologies: HIBC Code 39 and HIBC Code 128. These barcodes can encode alphanumeric data and are designed to carry a range of item and shipment information. HIBC employs a structured data approach in which specific data identifiers indicate the type of information contained in the barcode, such as product identifiers, lot or batch numbers, expiration dates, serial numbers, and quantity. Supplemental data may be added to extend the information carried by a single barcode.

In practice, HIBC labels are used by manufacturers, distributors, hospitals, and other clinical facilities to enhance traceability, reduce errors, support inventory management, and facilitate recall and safety processes. The system is commonly applied to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other healthcare products, as well as certain patient-identification and unit-dose labeling contexts.

Relation to other standards varies by setting. HIBC is distinct from, but sometimes used alongside, global standards such as GS1. Organizations may maintain crosswalks or conversion practices to harmonize identifiers across systems, depending on regional requirements and supply chain needs. Overall, HIBC aims to improve accuracy, interoperability, and patient safety within healthcare logistics.