Does color coding reduce medication errors?
Evidence in the scientific literature that proves color coding reduces medication errors is extremely limited. Moreover, the use of color coding of pharmaceutical products for the purpose of reducing medication errors is controversial among experts. Prior to requiring black caps on vials of potassium chloride for injection concentrate, a number of deaths were reported to the USP-ISMP Medication Errors Reporting Program due to mix-ups with sodium chloride 0.9 percent injection. These fatalities were eliminated, based on reports to this database, after the color coding and labeling changes went into effect. However, deaths due to accidental concentrated potassium chloride injection still occur. Restricting the availability of these products in clinical areas is proposed by experts as the best way to eliminate this problem.2,11 Published scientific evidence that evaluates whether the AAO’s color coding system reduces medication errors is nonexistent. It is widely accepted that many ophtha
