Reflecting on a look-alike error we had with dexamethasone and ketorolac vials that are nearly identical from the back and top, I had a radical idea that I would like to share with everyone.

Wouldn't it be great if all medication vial caps were plain white?

We all know that vial cap color is an unreliable means to identify a medication. There are more injectable drugs than there are colors, and there is no standardization across manufacturers for the choice of color. Despite this obvious fact, many people still do rely on vial cap color for identification.

I think it would be a lot safer if all vial caps were plain white, which would force people to actually look at the labels for identification. Perhaps an exception could be made for paralytics, which would all be red.

I am curious to hear other people's perspectives on this. Is there any benefit to the potpourri of vial cap colors that drug manufacturers shower us with?