Do not use if package is damaged (crossed-out box)
The standard’s wording, as the sources below reproduce it:
“Indicates a medical device that should not be used if the package has been damaged or opened and that the user should consult the instructions for use for additional information.”
ISO 15223-1:2021, 5.2.8 · ISO 7000-2606
What it means for you
Check the pack before use: a tear, a hole, a broken seal or a wet pouch means the device inside can no longer be relied on — for sterile products the pack is what keeps them sterile. Boston Scientific notes the symbol can also mean “Do not use if the product sterile barrier system or its packaging is compromised”.
Whether a device is right for you is a question for your pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
- What it looks like
- A circle with a diagonal bar over a box whose corner is torn open.
- Where you see it
- Sterile pouches and blister packs: dressings, catheters, test swabs, contact lenses, syringes.
- Other names
- do not use if package is opened or damaged; check package integrity
What it does not tell you
It does not say an intact pack is sterile after the use-by date, and it does not say what counts as damage for a specific product — the instructions do.
Often confused with
Indicates a medical device that is intended for one single use only.
More symbols in “A crossed-out circle”
Sources
ISO 15223-1 is a paid standard, so the wording above is quoted as 3 publishers’ public documents reproduce it. Each was fetched and read on the date shown:
- Boston Scientific: Symbols Glossary — ISO 15223-1 5.2.8 “Do not use if package is damaged and consult instructions for use — Indicates a medical device that should not be used if the package has been damaged or opened. NOTE 1: This symbol can also mean ‘Do not use if the product sterile barrier system or its packaging is compromised’.” Image labelled ISO 7000-2606. Checked 2026-09-25.
- NE Scientific: Master Symbol Glossary (CTF-100011 Rev 01) — Shows the crossed circle over a damaged box for reference no. 5.2.8 (ISO 7000-2606), with the full wording including “the user should consult the instructions for use for additional information”. Checked 2026-09-25.
- Cook Medical: Glossary of standard symbols — ISO 15223-1 5.2.8 “Do not use if package is damaged and consult instructions for use”. Checked 2026-09-25.
Plain-language parts are in our own words; quotations are the sources’ wording.