Where to put the tag
Phones read NFC tags from about 1 to 4 centimeters away, through plastic, paper, and glass. Metal and foil block them, so a tag stuck directly on metal won't read. This guide shows where to put Dhruani tags on each kind of packaging.
Three rules for every tag
- Never directly on metal or foil. That includes foil seals, foil blister backing, metal tubes, aerosol and inhaler canisters, and metallic labels.
- Not on the cap. Caps get swapped, thrown away, or replaced with easy-open caps. Put the tag on the container itself, or on a hang tag.
- Check it after attaching it. Scan the tag where it sits, with the app's Check a tag, before the medicine leaves the pharmacy. A tag that read fine on the counter may not read on the container.
By kind of packaging
| Packaging | Where the tag goes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pill vial | On the bottom, or on the side under or beside the printed label | Plastic doesn't block the tag. The bottom keeps it clear of the printed label. |
| Liquid bottle | On the side, near the shoulder, or on the bottom | Liquid weakens the signal slightly. Placing the tag near the top of a full bottle helps. |
| Cream, ointment, or gel in a metal tube | On the carton, or on a hang tag | The metal tube blocks the tag. Plastic tubes are fine for a tag directly on the tube. |
| Inhaler | On the carton, or on a hang tag | The canister is metal, and the plastic holder is too small to keep the tag clear of it. |
| Eye or ear drops | On the carton, or on a hang tag | The bottle is usually too small and curved to hold a tag well. |
| Blister pack or compliance pack | On a flag or hang tab that sticks out past the edge of the pack (see below) | Foil backing blocks ordinary tags. A flag holds the tag clear of the foil. |
| Insulin pen or injection | On the carton, or on a hang tag | Pens are small and have metal parts, and they're often kept in the refrigerator in their box. |
| Medicine dispensed in its original box | On the box, on a side without foil lining | Cardboard is fine. Some boxes are foil-lined; check with a scan. |
Blister and compliance packs: a flag past the edge
The tag needs to sit at least 1 centimeter (about half an inch) past the edge of the foil. Two ways work well:
A clear adhesive hang tab
- Use a clear plastic hang tab with an adhesive end, about 1 x 1.5 inches. Search for "clear self-adhesive hang tabs 1 x 1.5 inch". They come in packs of hundreds and cost a few cents each.
- Stick the adhesive end to the edge of the pack, on the printed card side, with the rest sticking out past the edge.
- Stick a small NTAG216 tag, about 20 to 25 mm round, on the part that sticks out, at least 1 cm past the foil.
A fold-over flag, with no extra supplies
- Cut a strip of label, about 1 x 3 inches. Brother white film tape (DK-22212) is the sturdiest; paper tape works too.
- Stick the first inch to the printed card side, at the edge, so the rest sticks out.
- Put the NFC tag on the sticky side of the part that sticks out, then fold that part back onto itself, sealing the tag inside.
- Write or print the patient name and drug on the flag, so it can't be mixed up with another pack.
The fold-over flag costs nothing extra and protects the tag on both sides. The hang tab is stiffer, so it holds its shape better in a pill organizer. Either way, scan the tag on the finished pack.
Hang tags
A hang tag is a small card or plastic tag holding the NFC tag, attached with an elastic loop or a twist tie. Use one when the container is metal, foil, very small, or curved.
- Stick the NFC tag to the card, and label the card with the patient's name and the drug, so it stays with the right medicine.
- Loop it around the container itself, not the cap.
- Tell the patient to keep the hang tag with the medicine.
On-metal tags
On-metal NFC tags have a shielding layer that lets them read when stuck to metal or foil. They're thicker and cost more than ordinary tags. If you buy them, choose ones with an NTAG216 chip, and test them with your phones and reader before using them for patients.
If a tag won't read after you've attached it, don't try to move it, because tags can tear. Write a new tag, and attach it in a better spot or on a hang tag.