While verifying stock, a technician compares two vials of the same medicine. Both share the identical 10-digit NDC but carry different lot numbers and different expiration dates. What does this combination of matching NDC with differing lot numbers most accurately indicate?
- AThey are different strengths of the same medicine.
- BThey are the same product from different manufacturing batches. Correct
- CThey are products from two different manufacturers.
- DThey are the same batch packaged in two different container sizes.
Why A is wrong: A change in strength changes the product segment of the NDC; because the NDCs match exactly, the strength is the same, so this is wrong.
Why B is correct: The NDC identifies the labeller, product, and package size, while the lot number identifies a specific production batch, so a shared NDC with differing lots means the same product made in separate batches.
Why C is wrong: The first segment of the NDC identifies the labeller, so an identical NDC rules out different manufacturers despite the tempting difference in lot numbers.
Why D is wrong: Package size is encoded in the NDC and a single batch carries one lot number, so identical NDCs with different lots cannot represent one batch in two package sizes.