In the NDC 5-4-2 format, what does the first segment denote?

• A. 5=manufacture(product)
• B. 5=pack size
• C. 5=country of origin
• D. 5=drug class

Answer: (A)

NDC numbers are divided into three parts that identify different aspects of the drug product: who made or distributed it, what the product is, and how it’s packaged. The first segment is the labeler code, the identifier assigned to the company that manufactured or distributed the drug. This is why the first segment corresponds to the manufacturer rather than the pack size, country of origin, or drug class. The second segment describes the product itself (such as strength and dosage form), and the third segment specifies the package size. So the correct interpretation is that the first segment denotes the manufacturer.