How to Find the NDC and Lot Number on Medication Packaging

When a drug recall covers only certain packages or production runs, the drug name is not enough. The National Drug Code (NDC) helps identify the listed product and package, while the lot number connects a package to a particular manufacturing batch.

They are different identifiers, and they may appear in different places.

What an NDC looks like

The FDA-assigned NDC currently uses 10 digits divided into three segments. On a label, the segments are usually separated by hyphens, such as 12345-6789-01. The segments identify:

1. The labeler
2. The specific product, including factors such as strength and dosage form
3. The package size and type

An NDC may be printed as NDC 12345-6789-01, near the drug name and strength, or next to a barcode. The FDA National Drug Code Directory explains what the directory contains and important limitations of NDC listing.

Do not assume every string below a barcode is the NDC. A barcode can encode multiple identifiers, and pharmacy billing systems may display an 11-digit version created by adding a leading zero to one segment. Keep the hyphens or photograph the label so you preserve the original grouping.

The FDA has adopted a future uniform 12-digit NDC format, but the agency will continue assigning the current 10-digit formats until the new format takes effect on March 7, 2033. The transition is described on the FDA’s National Drug Code Format page.

What a lot number looks like

A lot number may be labeled:

• LOT
• Lot No.
• Batch
• Batch No.
• Control No.

It can contain letters, numbers, hyphens, or spaces. Unlike an NDC, there is no single consumer-facing format that every manufacturer uses. A code close to EXP, Use by, or an expiration date is often the lot number, but read the printed labels carefully rather than guessing.

Copy every character exactly. 0 and O, 1 and I, or a faint hyphen can change whether your package matches a recall notice.

Where to look on common package types

Manufacturer bottle

Look on the main label, a side panel, the shoulder or bottom of the bottle, and near the expiration date. The NDC is commonly part of the printed label. The lot and expiration may be ink-jetted or laser-marked separately.

Outer carton

Check the front and side panels for the NDC. Look at the end flaps, bottom panel, or a panel near the barcode for LOT and EXP. Keep the carton until you have finished checking the notice because it may contain identifiers not repeated on the immediate container.

Blister pack

The foil backing may repeat the lot and expiration date along an edge or across each strip. The full NDC may appear only on the outer carton rather than on every blister cavity.

Tube, vial, syringe, or small container

Space is limited, so details may be split between the immediate container and its carton. Check both. Do not rely on the cap color or the appearance of the dosage form as an identifier.

Pharmacy-dispensed amber vial

The pharmacy label usually shows the medication name, strength, instructions, prescription information, and dispensing pharmacy. It may show an NDC, but the manufacturer’s original lot number often is not printed on the patient label.

If the pharmacy transferred tablets or capsules from a stock bottle into your vial, contact the pharmacy. Its dispensing and inventory records may be needed to identify the manufacturer, NDC, and lot associated with your prescription. Do not post a photo that exposes your name, prescription number, address, or prescriber.

NDC and lot number answer different questions

Think of the NDC as identifying the product-and-package configuration and the lot number as identifying the production batch. A recall notice may list:

• One NDC and several lots
• Several NDCs and one or more lots for each
• A broad product description with code information in a separate field
• “All lots” within a stated date range

Match both identifiers whenever the notice provides both. A matching NDC with a different lot may not be included, and a lot-like code without a matching product description is not enough.

What to record before searching

Write down or photograph:

• Brand and generic name
• Strength and dosage form
• Manufacturer, labeler, or distributor
• NDC with its original hyphen placement
• Complete lot or batch number
• Expiration date
• Package size

Then compare those details with the recall’s product description and code information. Our longer FDA recall search checklist explains how to narrow a search without relying on the drug name alone.

If you cannot locate the identifiers, call the dispensing pharmacy or the manufacturer using contact information from an authoritative label or recall notice. Do not stop a prescribed medicine solely because the packaging is unclear.