The FDA issued an alert to laboratories and health care providers about a shortage of Becton Dickinson's blood test tubes, which are critical for diagnosing bacterial and fungal infections.

The agency has advised health care providers to prioritize patients exhibiting signs of bloodstream infections, which can be life-threatening.

Significance of the Shortage

The scarcity of Becton's BACTEC blood culture media is likely to affect patient diagnosis, subsequent treatment, and the management of antimicrobial therapies. These blood culture media are instrumental in the early detection of infections, which is essential for preventing the progression of conditions such as sepsis. 

Background of the Issue

In a communication last month, Becton Dickinson reported anticipated delays in the supply of BACTEC blood culture media. The company attributed these delays to a reduced availability of plastic bottles from their suppliers and projected that this situation might persist for several months.

Company Statements

"While this supplier issue is not expected to have a material financial impact on Becton Dickinson, we are fully focused on returning the supply of blood culture vials to normal levels," Nikos Pavlidis, president of Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Solutions, said in a statement.

In response to the shortage, Becton Dickinson has implemented several strategies to mitigate the impact, including the utilization of air shipments and adjustments to their manufacturing schedules to expedite production. The company expects to provide an update on the situation by September.