Barcode Scanner

The Scan tab lets you scan drug barcodes with your device's camera to instantly look up NDC codes. This feature is available on iPhone and iPad only (not on Mac).

1. Tap the Scan tab
2. Point your camera at the barcode on a drug package
3. The app detects the barcode and decodes the NDC automatically
4. If a match is found, the product appears below the camera view
5. Tap the product to view the full product detail

NDC Lookup supports:

• UPC-A — The standard 12-digit barcode found on most US drug packaging
• EAN-13 — The international 13-digit barcode format (UPC-A is a subset)

Drug barcodes use UPC-A codes that encode the NDC with a prefix and check digit:

1. The UPC starts with a 3 prefix (indicating a pharmaceutical product)
2. The next 10 digits are the NDC
3. The last digit is a check digit

The app strips the prefix and check digit to extract the 10-digit NDC, then searches the database for matching packages.

The app requires camera access to scan barcodes. On first use, iOS will prompt you to allow camera access. If you denied access, you can enable it in:

Settings > NDC Lookup > Camera

After a scan, tap Scan Again to reset and scan another barcode.

Tip: For best results, hold the camera steady about 6-8 inches from the barcode in good lighting. The barcode should fill most of the camera frame.