Background colour to be Background is coloured A coloured background was except for neural (70% of primary colour) introduced to increase the visibility route, which is to be yellow of labels applied to fluid bags in clinical settings. This was applied to both labels (small and large). To allow for readability of label content, 70% of the primary colour was chosen. A combination of coloured (70% of primary colour) and white backgrounds was to line labels to assist differentiating between similar routes (e.g. intravenous and central venous) Background colour to be Yellow background The white background was except for neural retained for intrathecal to the regional route to route, which is to be yellow and epidural routes. differentiate between the two Regional other neural routes epidural and – background colour is intrathecal white Border pattern to be of Alternating black and Using the same border and squares of alternating coloured square background for intrathecal and and coloured squares borders have been epidural routes was judged to be a retained in all cases source of high-risk error and with the exception of patient harm, due to similar label the intrathecal route design. A solid black border has been introduced to assist in differentiating between intrathecal and epidural Border to be at 4 mm Border at least 3 mm in The border width was reduced to in width width maximise space for label content Border to occupy at least 3 Border occupies 2 sides The border was applied to the sides of the label of the label lateral to retain the border feature and to maximise space available for label content AS 4940 = Australian Standard AS 4940:2002 User-applied identification labels for use on fluid bags, syringes and drug administration lines (67, 68)
Background colour to be except for neural route, which is to be yellow Background is coloured (70% of primary colour) A coloured background was introduced to increase the visibility of labels applied to fluid bags in clinical settings. This was applied to both labels (small and large). To allow for readability of label content, 70% of the primary colour was chosen. A combination of coloured (70% of primary colour) and white backgrounds was to line labels to assist differentiating between similar routes (e.g. intravenous and central venous) Background colour to be except for neural route, which is to be yellow Yellow background retained for intrathecal and epidural routes. Regional background colour is white The white background was to the regional route to differentiate between the two other neural routes – epidural and intrathecal Border pattern to be of squares of alternating and coloured squares Alternating black and coloured square borders have been retained in all cases with the exception of the intrathecal route Using the same border and background for intrathecal and epidural routes was judged to be a source of high-risk error and patient harm, due to similar label design. A solid black border has been introduced to assist in differentiating between intrathecal and epidural Border to be at 4 mm in width Border at least 3 mm in width The border width was reduced to maximise space for label content Border to occupy at least 3 sides of the label Border occupies 2 sides of the label The border was applied to the lateral to retain the border feature and to maximise space available for label content AS 4940 = Australian Standard AS 4940:2002 User-applied identification labels for use on fluid bags, syringes and drug administration lines (67, 68)
National-Standard-for-User-Applied-Labelling-Aug-2015.docx