A method and apparatus for counteracting adverse
drug events (ADE's) which are caused by the administration of intravenous medications of incorrect types, concentrations or dosages, and which may result in morbidity and even mortality to recipient patients. A container, preferably in the nature of a transparent
plastic bag employed for intravenous administrations, contains the requisite infusion at a prescribed volume, adding a specified amount of prescribed medication possessing a predefined amount of a coloring material, such as a vegetable dye, to the volume of infusion material or liquid in order to form a prescribed concentration of medication, with the coloring material defining a specific type of medication. Analyzing of the concentration of medication is effected through the utilization of spectrophotometric equipment, and to resultingly obtain a real medication concentration value. Thereafter, a comparison is carried out between the real or actual and the prescribed medication concentration values, and an indicator, such as a
label or the like, is generated for placement on the intravenous container which is indicative of the type and verified concentration of the medication in the infusion. This procedure, in effect, by being implemented at the
pharmacy level, provides for medication and concentration
verification prior to administering the medication intravenously to a patient, and by verifying the presence of the indicator on the intravenous (IV) container, or by using a spectrophotometer at a nurse
station in order to again verify the medication and its concentration as a check or safeguard preceding administration thereof to the patient.