Manufacturers of ADA Accepted local
anesthetics have been notified that they
must adopt a uniform cartridge color-coding
system for identifying specific local anesthetics
and local anesthetic/vasoconstrictor combinations. The system
went into effect in June 2003.
| Color Code Format |
| Product |
PMS Color Code* |
| Lidocaine 2% with Epinephrine 1:100,000 |
Red: 185, 186, 199 or 200 |
 |
| Lidocaine 2% with Epinephrine 1:50,000 |
Green: 347, 348, 355 or 356 |
 |
| Lidocaine Plain |
Light Blue: 279 |
 |
| Mepivacaine 2% with Levonordefrin 1:20,000 |
Brown: 471, 477, 478, 498 or 499 |
 |
| Mepivacaine 3% |
Plain Tan: 466, 467 or 468 |
 |
| Prilocaine 4% with Epinephrine 1:200,000 |
Yellow: 108, 109, 110, 115 or 116 |
 |
| Prilocaine 4% |
Plain Black |
 |
Bupivacaine 0.5% with Epinephrine1:200,000 |
Blue: 300 or 301 |
 |
Articaine 4% with Epinephrine 1:100,00 |
Gold: 871, 872, 873, 874, or 875 |
 |
Articaine 4% with Epinephrine 1:200,000 |
Silver: 877C |
 |
- The color code shall consist of a band 3.0 ± 0.5 mm wide at a distance of 15 ± 5 mm from the stopper end of the cartridge.
- The end cap of the cartridge may be either color-coded to match the ADA Color-Coding System or given a neutral color.
- The stopper will not be color-coded and should not be indicative of the drug or color code.
- Lettering on the cartridge shall be black and font size should follow FDA labeling guidelines (headings at least 8 point type and text at least 6 point type).
- Lettering shall be in durable print that will not be removed by normal office handling.
*Pantone Matching System (PMS), Pantone, Inc.,
This color-coding system is the result of a resolution adopted by the ADA House of Delegates in response to dentists' concerns that the color coding schemes currently in use often differ from manufacturer to manufacturer for the same anesthetic product. The ADA worked closely with local anesthetic manufacturers to come up with a reasonable and workable system. Although the Association believes that dentists should read the labels of all drugs that they administer, it also believes that uniform color-coding will be a useful adjunct in identifying the specific anesthetic/vasoconstrictor used.
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