NDC Code

The National Drug Code (NDC) is a unique product identifier used in the United States for drugs intended for human use. Maintained by the FDA, the NDC system assigns a distinct numeric code to each medication product, enabling precise identification of the manufacturer (labeler), the specific drug formulation (product), and the package size and type. The standard NDC format uses a 10-digit number divided into three segments in a 4-4-2, 5-3-2, or 5-4-1 configuration.

The first segment of the NDC identifies the labeler, which is the company that manufactures, repacks, or distributes the drug. The second segment identifies the specific product, including the drug formulation, strength, and dosage form. The third segment identifies the package size and type. Together, these three segments provide a granular identification system that distinguishes between different strengths, formulations, and package sizes of the same medication.

NDC codes are essential for pharmacy operations, drug supply chain management, and healthcare data exchange. Pharmacy dispensing systems use NDC codes to identify exactly which product to dispense, insurance claims processing relies on NDC codes for adjudication and reimbursement, and medication tracking systems use NDC codes to maintain accurate inventory and trace drug products through the supply chain.

Electronic prescribing and medication catalog systems reference NDC codes alongside other standard identifiers such as RxNorm concepts and GPI codes. This multi-code approach ensures that medication data can be accurately matched and exchanged across the diverse systems in the healthcare ecosystem, from prescriber workflows through pharmacy dispensing and insurance processing.