Baxter issues urgent voluntary Heparin recall

Baxter has announced a voluntary recall of nine separate lots of heparin sodium in 1,000 units/ml 10 ml and 30 ml vials.

The firm began the recall of these lots on January 17th and has described it as a “precautionary measure” following reports of adverse reactions in patients that could be associated with the project.

It reports that it is engaging in a comprehensive investigation of these reports in order to ascertain the cause of these reactions, which it calls “allergic-type”, as well as potentially severe and life-threatening.

The affected lots are 107054, 117085, 047056, 097081, 107024, 107064, 107066, 107074 and 107111, with NDC numbers 0641-2440-45, 0641-2440-41, 0641-2450-45 and 0641-2450-41.

“Customers have been instructed to discontinue use and segregate the recalled product from the rest of their inventory,” the company said.

“Customers should then contact Baxter to arrange for return and replacement product.”

Those who bought the product indirectly have been advised to contact their distributor to return the product and procure a replacement.

Last month, Baxter Healthcare announced the launch of drug safety packaging designed for high alert treatments with the aim of using additional safeguards to reduce medication errors.