As a part of AIM celebrating World Standards Day, I sat down with Dr. Clive Hohberger to learn more about the history of ISBT 128; which does a great job of encapsulating the importance of standards in our everyday lives.
ISBT 128 is based on the Code 128 barcode standard, which is a high-density, alphanumeric barcode that can encode a wide range of characters. This barcode format is particularly well-suited for ISBT 128 because it can represent complex data in a compact form, making it ideal for labeling biological products.
Blood is a vital, life-saving resource used in emergency situations, international disaster relief, and wartime efforts. However, before 1994, there was no unified global standard for labeling blood products, which posed significant challenges for ensuring safety, traceability, and proper identification across borders.
In 1991, the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT) took on the crucial task of developing a single, global, language-independent standard for blood labeling. The aim was to create a system where every blood product, regardless of origin, could be uniquely labeled and read anywhere in the world. Dr. Hohberger, a barcode expert and biomedical engineer, was a key member of this task force. As the Editor of version 1.0 of the ISBT 128 global blood labeling standard, he played an instrumental role in shaping this life-saving solution.
The task force selected Code 128, an already established international linear barcode standard, to carry the necessary blood data. This choice ensured that the ISBT 128 barcodes could encode all the relevant information in a language-independent format, making it universally accessible.
The ISBT 128 standard was officially approved in 1994 and quickly adopted by countries worldwide. Today, it is implemented in over 90 countries, transforming the safety and reliability of blood products on a global scale.
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized ISBT 128 as the global standard for the identification and traceability of all medical products of human origin. This includes cells, tissues, transplantable organs, breast milk, and corneas, further extending the reach and impact of ISBT 128 beyond blood products.
To gain deeper insights into the development and impact of the ISBT 128 standard, click the link below to watch Dr. Hohberger’s video. In this video, Dr. Hohberger shares his experience working on the task force and provides a real-world example of how global standards enable trustworthiness and safety in healthcare.
Click here to view Dr. Clive Hohberger’s video.
This video is part of AIM’s celebration of World Standards Day, showcasing the importance of standards in ensuring safety, reliability, and global interoperability.