BD Vacutainer tubes recall: Inaccurate lead test results

What the company announced

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today announced it is updating the instructions for use of certain BD Vacutainer® tubes as part of its quality process to ensure that customers understand the appropriate uses of these products.

Since BD became aware of the concerns about inaccurate lead test results from Magellan Diagnostics LeadCare® Testing Systems, the company has been cooperating fully with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). BD launched an internal investigation and determined that Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) technology, which is used in Magellan LeadCare testing systems, is not compatible with thiuram, a material found in the rubber stoppers of the BD Vacutainer® EDTA Lavender, Pink and Tan top tubes and BD Vacutainer® Lithium Heparin Green top tubes. Thiuram has been in these rubber stoppers since 1996, however, the effect of thiuram on lead testing when used with ASV technology was only recently observed through the course of this investigation. As a result, BD is updating the instructions for use of its BD Vacutainer® Lavender, Pink and Tan top tubes and BD Vacutainer® Lithium Heparin Green top tubes to include a precaution that these products are not recommended for lead testing when using Magellan Diagnostics LeadCare® assays employing the ASV methodology, or any other assay employing ASV methodology. Other lead testing systems, such as graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are not affected by this update. In addition, BD is not aware of any other instrumentation that uses ASV technology. BD Vacutainer® tubes have been on the market for more than 60 years and continue to have a track record of safe and effective use.

Instructions to Customers

Please refer to the customer letter for specific information at bd.com/en-us/support/alerts-and-notices/bd-edta-tubes-and-litium-heparin-tubes-ifu-update .

There is no need for customers to return any products to BD, and these products can continue to be used in accordance with the updated instructions for use.

Customers should continue to follow FDA’s safety communication for testing lead levels, which currently recommends that no venous blood should be tested with Magellan’s LeadCare test systems (regardless of the collection tube used).

Customers with inquiries related to this action may contact BD at 1-888-237-2762 (select Option #3 and then Option #4), Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT.

Customers should report any adverse health consequences experienced with the use of these products to BD at the number above. Events may also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:

Web: Medwatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch

Phone: 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088)

Mail: MedWatch, HF-2, FDA 5600 Fisher’s Lane, Rockville, MD 20853-9787

BD believes that every member of the industry — from instrument manufacturers, to tube manufacturers to laboratory staff — plays a role in the validation of testing methods and tools used in the diagnostic process. BD remains committed to providing high-quality products and expertise to support accurate diagnostic testing, good specimen integrity and quality, and a safe environment for patients and health care workers.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.