The transactional cost of printing a human readable unique ID # on a prescription drug container, or case, is less than 1 penny per transaction.
A case containing 12 items cost less than 1 penny to print a serial number.
A case containing 24 items cost less than 1 penny to print a serial number.
A case containing 48 items cost less than 1 penny to print a serial number.
Printing a serial number on the container before the packaging line will relatively not add to the cost of packaging.
Printing a serial number on the label(s) before the packaging line will relatively not add to the cost of packaging.
Printing a serial number in the packaging line requires an inline printer costing between $5,000 - $10,000. The cost of the printer amortized a year of printing is less than 1 penny per item.
Dave said
[The content below was submitted to the blog, but because it was duplicated on more than one topic, it is normally presumed to be SPAM. On the other hand, the comment has valid point(s) so we removed the companies that are being promoted. We welcome comments from vendors and suppliers. blog.counterfeitdrug.com]
The reality is that there are a number of viable technologies that allow manufacturers to track their products from the manufacturing line to the homes of consumers (with end-user validation capabilities). Companies like Sxxxxx Sxxxxxxxx (www.sxxxxxxxxxx.com) and Inovatum (www.xxxxxxx.com) produce pharmaceutical anti-counterfeiting systems that, if employed, provide assurances to consumers that the product that left the manufacturing facility is the same product that is in their homes for consumption. California has done a great job with moving towards mandating e-pedigree tracking, etc., but more pharmaceutical companies should be voluntarily engaging this problem for the health and well being of their consumers.