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Yes, Ostomy Products Can Expire: OSTOMY TIPS

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(@G Precuado)
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1
 

you please tell me I have ostomy pouches 401544 lot 0C02150 can you tell me what is the experation date


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 4376
Topic starter  

Hello. Convatec doesn't usually list expiration dates, but rather, they put the manufacturer date instead.

The first two digits of that code are "02", which means 2020 ("0" is the last digit of the year) in March ("3" is the month). So your pouches were manufactured in March of 2020 and should be fine for several more years.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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 Rob
(@Rob)
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 1
 

I have some (roughly four year old) Hollister Centerpoint lock skin barriers as well as pouches. I have always thought this the best system ever marketed (i used it for a dozen years or more). I'd like to donate these to a needy user but I wonder if they are still 'good'. ? I opened a seal package skin barrier and the adhesive etc. all seems to be in good order. OR, should I discard them? A few boxes of each.


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 4376
Topic starter  

Hi Rob,

Are there any manufacturer or expiry dates on the package? It's possible that even after four years, they are still "good", but as an adhesive product, it may not stick as well as it should.

If you contact a place that accepts ostomy supply donations, they should be able to tell you if they'll take them or not, even if they are "expired". Good luck!

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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(@Lisa K Heffner)
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 1
 

What are the letters for convatec for the codes jan is a feb is b
March c April is d may is e June is f July is g August is h September is I October is j November is k and Dec is l is that right I have a box 2C04161 is it expires in March 27 is that right thanks Lisa Heffner


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 4376
Topic starter  

Hi Lisa,

Let's break it down.

2C04161

2 = 2022 (The year it was manufactured)
C = Batch C (ignore this)
04 = April (The month it was manufactured)
161 = The machine code. (ignore this)

So your products were manufactured April, 2022, and they should be fine until 2027.

I hope that helps :)

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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 Liz
(@Liz)
Joined: 3 months ago
Posts: 3
 

My drainable Hollister pouches and wafers don't have an expiration date on the box. I checked all sides and there was none.


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 4376
Topic starter  

Hi Liz,

Does it have a manufacturer date? Often, a date will be next to a small logo of what looks like a factory, and that would be the date that the product was made. But other codes could be used, too.

It wouldn't be a shock if there was no expiry date, but there's usually a manufacturer date.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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 Liz
(@Liz)
Joined: 3 months ago
Posts: 3
 

Oh I found it it says 2029 - 8 - 01. So I guess that is the expiration date? It is in such tiny print. I had to take off my glasses to read it up close. It was under the Lot number. Thanks for having me look again. That is helpful. Sorry for the inconvenience.


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 4376
Topic starter  

Yes, that's the expiry date! That's a good number of years away :)

It's usually not something you'll need to worry about with bags and wafers, since you'll likely use them well before the expiry date.

But I think if you have some time, it may be worth letting Hollister know that the print is too small to be read easily. I'm sure there are minimum text sizes in order to comply with accessibility that they need to follow.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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