Is there a cross-reference database or mapping of ABC Codabar product codes to ISBT 128 Product Description Codes?
Not at an international level, because the use of Codabar codes is not uniform. Since ISBT 128 defines products more specifically, there may be multiple ISBT 128 Product Description Codes for each ABC Codabar product code. The easiest way to obtain the ISBT 128 Product Description Codes used by your facility is to make a list of products by classification (e.g., Red Blood Cells, Fresh Frozen Plasma, Platelets, Apheresis Platelets), ‘core conditions’ (anticoagulant, volume and storage temperature) and attributes (e.g., intended use, open vs. closed system, irradiation). Use the ISBT 128 Product Description Code table to locate the matching codes. This will create the new ‘master label set’ for your facility. A simple program to search the ISBT 128 Product Description Code database is also available on the ICCBBA, Inc Web site In the US, the ATAG has developed a list that will map many Codabar product codes to ISBT 128 product codes. This list is available on the ICCBBA, Inc Web site.
