Posted by Dr Dan Carter
Physicians who administer or supervise the administration of intravenous drugs and solutions know how critical it is to read the labels of these products before giving them to patients. IV set-up protocols normally require redundant reading of labels at least three times prior to administration, in order to insure that the correct drug/solution is given. A recent posting from the FDA illustrates this important point once again:
[Quote] IV Solutions from Wallcur of San Diego: CDER Statement – FDA Warns Health Care Professionals Not to Inject PatientsAUDIENCE: Risk Manager, Health Professionals, Pharmacy
ISSUE: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting health care professionals not to use Wallcur, LLC, simulated intravenous (IV) products in human or animal patients. These products are for training purposes only. There have been reports of serious adverse events associated with the use of certain of these products – i.e., Practi IV Solution Bags.
BACKGROUND: FDA has become aware that some Wallcur training IV products have been distributed to health care facilities and administered to patients. FDA will continue to investigate and monitor this issue. The agency is also working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to inform health care professionals and state health departments.
RECOMMENDATION: Before administering IV solutions to patients, health care providers should carefully check the labels to ensure that the products are not training products, such as Practi IV Solution Bags marketed by Wallcur. Wallcur’s training products, which may bear the words “for clinical simulation,” are not to be administered to patients.
If you suspect that any Wallcur training IV products may have been administered to a patient, whether or not the incident has resulted in an adverse event, please report the incident to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by:
Complete and submit the report online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
Download and complete the form, then submit it via fax at 1-800-FDA-0178.
Protect your patients – read IV drug and solution labels with a hypercritical eye.
