For sterile drugs or medical devices two properties are of prime considerations sterility and integrity of the product.

For radiation sterilization, drugs and devices are prepacked in hermetically sealed, durable packages that are impermeable to microorganisms, and thus are not subjected to post-process contamination through handling. Then, from the sterility point of view, pre-packed, radiation sterilized items have long shelf-life, literally indefinite, provided the package is unopened or undamaged. Shelf-life dating, solely for the purpose of assuring package integrity and sterility, would appear to be redundant. But there may be a need for shelf-life or expiration date if the drug or a component of the device can deteriorate with time, e.g., loss in potency of the drug, increasing discolouration or stickiness of soft PVC devices, decrease in physical strength of PP devices, loss of power in a battery in a pacemaker, etc.

Pharmaceutical preparations like antibiotics, their ointments etc. are given a shelf-life reckoned from the date of manufacture of the formulation. The shelf-life varies from product to product depending on its stability and formulation matrix; for example 3 to 5 years for sterile powders of antibiotics, and 2 years for ophthalmic ointments.