Frequently Asked Questions

1

Why do I need to be licensed by ICCBBA?

Once you are licensed by ICCBBA, you will receive a password to access the documents and tools provided by ICCBBA. If you have paid your registration and licensing fees you can request a password here.

2

Why must I pay to use ISBT 128?

In order to maintain and enhance the ISBT 128 Standard so it continues to meet the needs of its users, it must be professionally managed.  Of particular importance are the following:

• stability – users must be confident that a standard is stable for the period of time that it is required (EC requires data to be stored and traceable for 30 years);
•  user focus – the user community are the experts in their field and the information standard needs to meet, rather than dictate, their needs;
• flexibility – as clinical and scientific knowledge grows there is rapid development with changing information needs.  The standard must be flexible enough to accommodate these needs;
• responsiveness – with a rapidly developing field the standard needs to be able to respond to user needs in a timely manner;
• globalization – there is a need for a truly international standard with endorsement worldwide;
• implementation – a standard is only of value if it is widely used;
• compatibility – standards do not work in isolation but need to interface with equipment, software and other standards. 

Clearly meeting these needs will have a cost.  Stability and flexibility requires a robust organization that can manage the development and maintenance of the standard, and one that is not overly dependent on key personnel.

To support its activities ICCBBA charges a license fee for the use of the ISBT 128 Standard.  As a tax-exempt, non-profit organization all of this income is directed to achieving the ICCBBA mission: “to enhance safety for patients by managing the ISBT 128 international information standard for use in transfusion and transplantation”

3

Who is using ISBT 128?

ISBT 128 has been implemented in many countries. We maintain a map of all the countries that have implemented ISBT 128 and those who have registered with ICCBBA.

4

What benefits would facilities see after implementing ISBT 128?

ISBT 128 offers immediate benefits to your organization as well as the ongoing benefits of achieving greater safety, accuracy, and efficiency in your service delivery. Core benefits include:

• The entire Donation Identification Number (which includes the facility identification) is encoded in a single bar code.
• No duplication worldwide of a Donation Identification Number in 100 years.
• Fewer system and identification errors.
• Fewer misreads on automated instruments.
• More specific identification of products and the ability to use the same codes for billing products as those used on the component label.
• Ability to bar code the expiration time
• No tracking and renumbering problems when blood is imported from another facility when the unit number is not in the same format as that used by the blood center's computer system.
• Other long term benefits include the ability to build in more process controls and continue to use the same data structures whether using bar codes or radio frequency tags (or other new technology).
• The efficiency and ease-of-use benefits that the grocery industry has seen with bar code standardization that results in lower operating costs.

1

How do I access the databases and other documents available only to registered facilities?

The Product Description Codes Database and documents are located in the Tech Library section of the website.  The database and some documents are only accessible to registered users whose facilities are current on their registration and annual licensing fees.

2

Where do I find the product description codes that I need?

ICCBBA has posted the product description codes on the website in the Product Description Codes Database section.  Registered and licensed facilities can download the product description codes so long as they are current with their licensing requirements.  Another useful tool in determining which product code you need is the Product Description Code Lookup Program.

The Product Description Codes Database is updated approximately 10 times per year and it is essential to update your copy regularly to have the most current information regarding the ISBT 128 standard. You can subscribe to our mailing list and you will be notified via email of updates.

3

How do I obtain a new product description code?

To request a new product description code that is not already in the database, request forms for product description codes may be found on this website.  The form must be completed and submitted online. There are different forms for blood, cellular therapy, and tissue products.  These forms may be found in the Subject Area sections of the website:  

Tissues Products

Blood Products

Cellular Therapy Products

For further information on how to obtain a new product description code click here.

4

What is a local use code? 

Local use codes are primarily used for “boutique” or research products.  They are also used for in-process products that your system may require you to track.  You will have to define the local code and maintain records of it.  Codes A0000 through D9999 are reserved for local use.  These codes should ONLY be used where there is not an appropriate international code and when there is good reason why an international code should not be allocated.  If there is any uncertainty whether the code assigned to a product should be international or local/regional/national, the user should contact the ICCBBA office.

5

We are doing research in new blood components. How do I get a product code?

ISBT 128 permits any facility to assign a "local code" to products in development.  These codes should be made known to blood centers doing the research, and any facility or facilities using the new products in clinical trials, etc.  Outside of this group, these codes may have a different meaning.  See the ISBT 128 Standard: Technical Specification for details.

6

How do I label intraoperatively collected autologous blood?

If the products will be stored in the laboratory, a local product code (first letter A-D instead of E) should be used.  For example, A0001 could be "Intraoperative Washed Red Blood Cells".  Other labeling should follow national requirements.

7

Is the use of the check character during keyboard entry of the Donation Identification Number required every time I type it in?

The check character feature is calculated based on the ISO modulo 37-2 method.  Its use is not required, but is strongly encouraged every time you have keyboard entry of your DIN. Your computer system software should be designed to recognize keyboard entry of the DIN and to require verification of the entry via the check character.  This will ensure the accuracy of the keyboard data entry, eliminating transcription and transposition errors.

Although its use is optional, the printing of the check character next to the DIN is required.  Other long codes, such as the red cell phenotype, will also have keyboard entry check characters.

8

I heard there were "flags" in the Donation Identification Number. What do you mean by flags and do I need to use the flags?

Flags are part of the ISBT 128 data structure and are unique identifiers that can be used to facilitate the control of various processes in a blood center.  For example, different sample tubes can be 'flagged' to ensure that the correct tube is used for a specific test procedure.  The decision to use the flags is voluntary and will not interfere with shipments of blood products from one facility to another.

For an example of creative use of the flag character see Technical Bulletin 7.

9

Where can I find ISBT 128 labels for validation?

Sample bar codes (both valid and invalid) that can be used for validation may be found on the ICCBBA Website in Technical Bulletin 10.

10

Is the use of concatenation required?

Concatenation is a method by which the information held in two bar codes is combined in the scanner into a single string of data before being sent to the host computer.  The use of concatenation is encouraged but not required.  When set up properly, concatenation can be a powerful process control tool used to ensure information is scanned from the same product.

11

We are having difficulty getting our scanner to read concatenated ISBT 128 bar codes.  What can I do?

The user’s manual for your bar code scanner should have the information you need (in the form of bar codes) to turn on and off the different types of bar code symbologies and concatenation features.  It is recommended that you turn off all other symbologies that are not being used.  You can contact your vendor if you require additional help.

12

Can ISBT 128 be used with 2D or RFID tags?

ISBT 128 data structures can be delivered using a number of different technologies including Code 128 bar codes, two-dimensional (2-D) bar codes, Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) bar codes, wireless radio frequency identification transponders (RFID tags), and EDI messages.  Rules for such uses of ISBT 128 data structures will depend on the delivery mechanism.

13

Can I use ISBT 128 bar codes to label a Red Cell product as antigen-negative based on historical antigen testing of the donor? 

The ISBT 128 standard does not create standards for testing—only for how the product can be labeled or how information should be transmitted electronically.  We defer to national authorities to determine when a unit may be labeled as antigen-negative.