Great care must be taken with medical labeling in order to meet stringent requirements as well as to ensure the health and safety of consumers. There are industry best practices and then there are those practices that you should avoid entirely. Here we uncover those medical labeling practices that are best to avoid, including a product or label mix-up, misbranding, and product adulteration. This is especially important since any accidents or injuries related to medical labeling—and legal liabilities related thereto—can often be prevented by having accurate labels.
- Product or Label Mix-Up: When labels are added to the wrong device, file, or package, it can increase the risk of mistakes and, therefore, of medical liability. Applying the wrong label to the wrong item can easily happen if labels are unclear because the data imprint unclear or illegible. This could be due to poor print quality or the inability of the data imprint and/or label to withstand certain conditions. Therefore, labels should contain a durable ink, strong adhesive and be able to be clearly read so that there are no mix-ups.
- Misbranding: Misbranding a medical device or a medication can involve using a label that contains false or misleading information about what is contained in the package or has inaccurate information about the contents, including the amount, weight, or ingredients. Misbranding may also mean that it is missing a label entirely because it has fallen off over time or simply was not used. It is important to use high-quality, durable labels that can adhere to devices or bottles so that nothing is misbranded. The labels also must have adequate room to print all the necessary information, including any warnings, directions on use, what is included, a potential expiration date and any other information that is necessary for making informed decisions on how to use what is there. Further, inspecting for label presence after the point of label application is a must do procedure.
- Product Adulteration: This can happen if the medical label or product becomes contaminated or damaged by decomposed substances or anything else that makes it dirty. It is important to make sure that labels are not used that can give into or break down from any contact with contamination or other substances that may adulterate a product or medical device. Additionally, with medical labeling it is important to ensure that all labels are compliant with the regulatory environment and have the ability to maintain their integrity even in the harshest of environments.
In Summary In summarizing the key points in this blog about medical labeling practices to avoid, remember the following:
- Do not rely on labels with poor adhesive or print ability
- Do not use labels that cannot supply adequate room for the necessary information because the product might be deemed misbranded.
- Do not rely on labels that cannot handle harsh conditions because you could be at risk for product adulteration.
