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Automatic Identification and Data Capture

Provides the specification and implementation guidance for achieving accurate Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) using GS1 international code numbering standards.

Documentation

About this standard

Publisher
NHS England
Also known as
AIDC
Reference code
DAPB0108 Amd 1/2022
Publication date
14/04/2022
Publication version
2.0.0
Status
Active
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Active. Active standards are stable, maintained and have been approved, assured or endorsed for use by qualified bodies.

Deprecated Deprecated standards are available for use and are maintained, but are being phased out, so new functionality will not be added.

Retired standards Retired standards are not being maintained or supported and should not be used.

Standard type
Information standards
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Collections. A Collection is a systematic gathering of a specified selection of data or information for a particular stated purpose from existing records held within health and care systems and electronic devices.

Extractions. An extraction is a type of collection that is pulled from an operational system by the data controller and transmitted to the receiver without additional processing or transcription by the sender.

Information standards. Information standards are agreed ways of doing something, written down as a set of precise criteria so they can be used as rules, guidelines, or definitions.

Technical Standards and specifications. Technical standards and specifications specify how to make information available technically including how the data is structured and transported.

Contact point

Using this standard

Applies to
All NHS Trusts
Impacts on
Implementation of this information standard impacts all health IT systems suppliers providing systems to the above providers; suppliers should work with their customers to determine necessary changes.
Associated medias
Conformance date
31/03/2023
Effective from
14/04/2022

Topics and care settings

Topic
  • Continuity of care
  • Key care information
  • Reference data
Care setting
  • Community health
  • Hospital
  • Maternity
  • Mental health
  • Pharmacy
  • Transport / Infrastructure
  • Urgent and Emergency Care
Dependencies

This standard needs to be reviewed and implemented alongside the NHS Data Model and Dictionary.

Related standards

Review Information

Scope
NHS Services
Sponsor

Ian Townend, Chief Architect – Transformation Directorate, NHS England

Senior Responsible Officer

Alex Elias, Associate Director for Information Standards and Information Representation Services, NHS England

Business Lead
John Papadopoulos, Standards and Consulting, GS1 UK
Approval date
31/03/2022
Post Implementation review Date
31/03/2024
Legal authority

Section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012

This information standard is published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012

More information

The standard includes an overview of:

  • GS1 Identification Keys, including data structure and supported data attributes
  • GS1 Data Carriers (i.e., barcodes and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags)
  • Producing compliant GS1 barcodes and RFID tags, using GS1 Application Standards and Symbol Specifications
  • Ensuring optimal barcode quality and compliance to GS1 Standards, including barcode and RFID validation and verification requirements.

It should be used as a reference tool by the NHS when procuring, implementing, and using AIDC technologies, e.g., barcode encoding software, scanners and printers.

About this change

The last release of this standard, ISB 0108 Amd 145/2010, was published in 2011 and this change to the standard enables alignments with GS1 standards and changes in the NHS, by introducing:

  • Serialised Global Trade Item Number (SGTIN) which enables the identification of a specific instance of an item, providing additional granularity for traceability purposes
  • Service Relation Instance Number (SRIN) which enables the identification of specific episodes of care and is an extension to the Global Service Relation Number (GSRN), defined for use by DCB1077: AIDC for Patient Identification.

Other changes include:

  • Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) added to GS1 Data Carriers
  • References to supporting links and guidance, glossary, appendices, governing bodies, and contract dates, updated.

Note: this standard is not mandatory for providers, but where providers do choose to use AIDC technologies, they MUST conform to this standard.

Page last updated: 29 August 2024