Not medical advice. This guide is general purchasing information only.
Short answer: EA means each (one individual unit), BX means box (a printed count inside one carton, e.g. "BX/100" = box of 100), and CS means case (how many boxes or packs ship in the outer carton, e.g. "CS/10" or a case of 1,000 gloves). Unit abbreviations are confusing, so every unit option on our site now spells itself out — "Case of 48", "Box of 12", "Box of 100" — so you can see exactly what you are ordering without decoding.
How our unit options are written
Unit options on our listings are written out in full, so the count is clear at a glance: Case of 48, Box of 12 and Box of 100 appear on the option picker. Short codes such as "CS", "BX" or "Stocked / Case / 48" are not used in our unit options. Nothing about the product changes; only the wording does.
Common codes vs. our spelled options
| Code you may see elsewhere | Means | How it appears on our site | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA | Each — one unit | "Each" or a single pack | One EA of a splint vs one EA of a box — EA attaches to whatever the title counts |
| BX | Box — a fixed inner count | "Box of 100" (gloves), "Box of 12" | Box size is not standard across categories; read the count |
| CS | Case — the shipping carton of boxes/packs | "Case of 48", "Case of 100", "Case of 6" | A "case" can mean a different count from one brand to another; the spelled count ends the guessing |
| PK / BG | Pack / Bag | Spelled with its own count on the option (e.g. "Box of 12") | Packs are frequently the retail-inner of a case |
| CS-48, BX/100 | Compound codes | Not used in our unit options | Still common on some pick-lists and invoices |
The per-unit math, worked through
The only price that lets you compare a box against a case is the per-unit price:
per-unit price = listing price ÷ number of units in that option
Worked example 1 — gloves (method). Our McKesson Vinyl Exam Glove, Large, Clear is stocked in Box of 100 units; the listing spells out the unit, so use the option's spelled number in front of it. Divide the price shown for the option you are considering by the number of gloves in it. Then divide the price of a case option by the total number of gloves in that case, and compare the two results. The method is the point; check the current price on the listing.
Worked example 2 — underpads (method). Underpads use the same arithmetic: divide the price of a bag or case by the number of pads in it. Sizes and absorbency levels differ, so compare options only within the same size and absorbency class, and weigh cost per pad and cost per change before you decide. Check the count on the option itself before you compare two prices.
How to choose the right unit: buy EA/pack quantities for trials and single-patient needs; buy boxes where storage is tight and turnover is uncertain; buy cases once you can state your monthly consumption in whole cases — the discount only exists if the carton gets used before it gets damaged or expired. If a case quantity is more than a month of use, the "cheaper" unit price is actually float in your storeroom.
Where this language lives on our site
Spelled units appear on every listing's option picker, and the definitions are mirrored on our FAQ page. Volume buyers who order by case by default — clinics, facilities, practices — set those expectations up once through For Businesses. High-turnover consumables in both box and case options are collected at Bestsellers, including the McKesson vinyl gloves and Prevail Per-Fit 360 Maximum Plus briefs (Large).
FAQs
Q: Why are the option names written out in full?
A: Unit options are written out in full ("Case of 48", "Box of 12") instead of short codes such as "CS", "BX" or "Stocked / Case / 48". Same products, clearer words.
Q: Is a "case" always the same size across brands?
A: No — that is exactly the trap EA/BX/CS codes hide. Check the vinyl-glove listing for the case count; an underpad case is 100 on the Total Care line, and each case option spells its own number — 48, 12, 16, 36 — right on the option. The spelled count on the option tells you; never assume a case number from a different category.
Q: Can I split a case — order part of a Case of 48?
A: Ask through For Businesses before planning around a partial case.
Q: Do your prices include tax and shipping per unit?
A: Per-unit math in this guide uses the listed item price only. Ship terms are quoted at checkout or on a business account, and lead time is shown on each listing: stocked items ship in 2–5 business days and special-order items in 2–4 weeks.
Not medical advice. This guide is general purchasing information only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it does not replace the advice of your doctor, nurse or other qualified clinician or the manufacturer's instructions for use. Always follow their guidance for your situation.
