How to Check Lot Numbers and Recalls When Clearing Expired Medications

Don’t Guess When Medications Expire - Check the Label

You’ve got a drawer full of old pills. Some are in original bottles. Others are in random containers from last year’s flu season. You know they’re old. But are they dangerous? Can you still use them? And if you’re clearing them out, how do you make sure you’re not throwing away something still safe - or worse, keeping something that could hurt someone?

The answer isn’t in your gut feeling. It’s not in the year printed on the bottle. It’s not even in the lot number. The only thing that matters is the EXP date - the expiration date - printed clearly on the packaging. Everything else is just noise.

What Lot Numbers Actually Do (And Don’t Do)

Lot numbers aren’t magic codes. They’re tracking tags. Each one ties a batch of pills, capsules, or liquids to a specific production run - when, where, and how they were made. Manufacturers use them to pull products off shelves if something goes wrong: contamination, wrong dosage, faulty packaging.

But here’s the truth: you cannot calculate an expiration date from a lot number. Not reliably. Not legally. Not safely.

Some lot numbers look like dates: 230515A might mean May 15, 2023. But that’s the manufacturing date, not the expiry. Pfizer uses that format. Merck uses MK22B047 - where ‘22’ is the year, but ‘B047’ is just an internal batch code. Other companies use random letters and numbers with no pattern at all.

Even if you could decode it, shelf life varies. A liquid antibiotic might expire in 14 days after opening. A tablet could last 3 years. You don’t know unless the manufacturer says so - and they put that on the package as EXP 06/2025 or EXP 12/24.

The FDA requires this. It’s not a suggestion. Every prescription and over-the-counter drug sold in the U.S. must have a clear, printed expiration date in month/year format. If it’s not there, the product shouldn’t be on the shelf.

How to Spot a Fake or Misread Expiration Date

Not all labels are easy to read. Some are faded. Others are printed on shiny foil that reflects light. Some international meds use day/month/year format - which can confuse people used to month/year.

Here’s how to avoid mistakes:

• Look for the word EXP, Expiry, or Expires. It’s usually right next to the date.
• Check the font size. Legally, it must be large enough to read without a magnifier. If it’s tiny, the label might be counterfeit.
• Use good lighting. At least 500 lux - a bright desk lamp works. Poor lighting causes 31% of misreads, according to University of Florida studies.
• If you’re unsure, don’t guess. Call the pharmacy that sold it. They can look up the lot number in their system and confirm the expiry.

One common trap: European meds sometimes say MFG: 01/2023 + 36 months. That’s not the expiry date. That’s a manufacturing date plus shelf life. The actual expiry is 01/2026. Many U.S. pharmacies have thrown out perfectly good meds because staff misread this.

Check Recalls Before You Throw Anything Away

Just because a drug is expired doesn’t mean it’s unsafe to use. But if it’s part of a recall? That’s a different story.

Recalls happen for real reasons: contaminated batches, wrong strength, pills stuck together, or even foreign objects found in packaging. The FDA tracks every one.

Before you dispose of expired meds, especially if they’re in bulk or you’re clearing a pharmacy shelf:

1. Find the lot number on the bottle or box.
2. Go to the FDA’s official database: Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts.
3. Search by lot number. If it shows up, don’t throw it out - follow the recall instructions. Sometimes you get a refund. Sometimes you need to return it.
4. If it’s not listed, proceed with disposal.

Don’t skip this step. In 2021, 217 recall incidents were delayed because lot numbers weren’t cross-checked. That meant expired or dangerous meds stayed on shelves longer - and patients got sick.

Use Technology - But Don’t Rely on It Alone

Many pharmacies now use barcode scanners that read both the lot number and the EXP date at the same time. Systems like Medplore’s AI scanner can read faded labels with 99.2% accuracy. That’s a game-changer.

But here’s the catch: these tools still need human oversight. If the scanner picks up a lot number but misses the EXP date because the label is torn, you’re still at risk.

Best practice: Use tech to speed things up, but always do a visual check. Scan it. Then look at it. Then confirm it.

At UC San Diego Medical Center, switching to barcode scanning cut inventory clearance time from 3 hours to 22 minutes. But they still require staff to verify every item by sight. No shortcuts.

The 7-Step Clearing Process (For Pharmacies and Clinics)

If you’re responsible for clearing expired meds - whether you run a clinic, pharmacy, or long-term care facility - here’s what you must do:

1. Isolate all medications within 60 days of their EXP date. Don’t wait until the day they expire.
2. Scan every lot number into your inventory system at least 30 days before expiry.
3. Check the FDA’s recall database using each lot number.
4. Call the manufacturer if you’re unsure. Keep a list of their contact info - update it every quarter.
5. Take timestamped photos of the meds before disposal. Include the lot number and EXP date in the frame.
6. If it’s a controlled substance (like opioids or benzodiazepines), fill out FDA Form 3639. Keep copies for at least 2 years.
7. Dispose properly. Don’t flush. Don’t throw in the trash without mixing with coffee grounds or cat litter. Use a DEA-authorized take-back program if you can.

Training staff takes about 4.2 hours. But after three practice rounds, accuracy jumps to 90%. That’s worth the time.

What Happens If You Get It Wrong?

Getting expiration dates wrong has real consequences.

Take vaccines. A CVS technician in 2024 said they waste 15-20% more doses because staff can’t decode lot numbers fast enough. That’s money gone - and people left unprotected.

On the flip side, keeping expired meds can be deadly. The FDA estimates 1.3 million emergency room visits each year are tied to expired or misused medications. Some antibiotics lose potency. Insulin can degrade. Heart meds might not work when needed most.

Independent pharmacies are especially at risk. Only 42% have automated lot tracking. That means 1 in 8 expired meds cleared improperly come from small clinics and local pharmacies - places with fewer checks and less training.

What’s Changing in 2025 and Beyond

The FDA is pushing for full electronic tracking of every drug batch by November 2025. That means every pill bottle will be traceable from factory to patient.

Companies like Pfizer are testing blockchain systems to make this foolproof. GS1 standards are becoming the norm - meaning lot numbers will be more consistent across manufacturers.

But here’s the key: expiration dates will still be printed separately. Even with better tech, the law won’t change. The EXP date on the package is the law. Not the lot number. Not the system. Not the scanner.

By 2027, experts predict lot-number-related errors will drop by 90%. But until then, you need to rely on what’s right in front of you: the printed date.

Final Rule: Always Trust the Label

Dr. Emily Chen from the FDA says it plainly: "Pharmacies must never calculate expiration dates from lot numbers - the printed EXP date is legally binding and supersedes any derived calculation."

So when you’re holding a bottle of pills, ask yourself: Do I see the EXP date? Is it clear? Is it after today? If yes, you’re safe. If no - don’t use it. Don’t guess. Don’t hope.

Clearing expired meds isn’t about being fast. It’s about being sure. One wrong call can hurt someone. Two wrong calls can cost a life.