Biometrics testing laboratory iBeta has received DEA approval for its certification process for Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS).

iBeta has been authorized to review, verify and certify that particular electronic prescribers or electronic pharmacy applications meet the requirements of DEA’s regulations governing Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances.

With physicians, hospitals and pharmacies utilizing electronic prescriptions for controlled substances, DEA-EPCS guidelines are in place to ensure the security and privacy of both the patient and practitioner.

As of June 2010 biometrics can be used as the primary credential in lieu of a hard token or a password for prescribing certain medication. The new iBeta approval looks to utilize this feature.

By incorporating biometrics into the new certification process, the DEA hopes that the user experience will not only be expedited, but also more efficient as biometric credentials are more likely to be in the possession of the user at the time of prescription than would a normal token.

iBeta offers a full range of software quality services including quality assurance, functionality testing, performance testing, compatibility testing, code reviews, IV & V and test plan engineering.

The full DEA-EPSC announcement can be found here.