The Recall Desk
Agency classClass IIOur severity:SevereFDA (Drugs)·D-114-2013·Announced 2013-01-09

New England Compounding Center Recalls Bupivacaine Products Due to Sterility Concerns

New England Compounding Center is recalling Bupivacaine 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75% PF products because the agency cannot assure the sterility of the medication.

The agency’s classification

FDA (Drugs): Class II

Class II is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The agency classification is FDA Class II, and the rubric specifies that FDA Class II recalls with potential for serious injury (implied by lack of sterility assurance for an injectable drug) align with a score of 4, particularly given the structural nature of the defect (sterility).

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall for Bupivacaine 0.25% PF, Bupivacaine 0.5% PF, and Bupivacaine 0.75% PF manufactured by New England Compounding Center in Framingham, MA. The recall is being conducted because the agency lacks assurance of the sterility of these products.

The recall covers all lot codes of the affected products. The distribution pattern is listed as nationwide. The agency has classified this recall as Class II.

Consumers and healthcare providers should stop using the affected products and contact their healthcare provider or the manufacturer for further instructions.

The recalled product

Product
Bupivacaine 0.25% PF, Bupivacaine 0.5% PF, and Bupivacaine 0.75% PF, manufactured by New England Compounding Center, Framingham, MA

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Lot numbers (1)

  • All lot codes

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Part of a larger recall action

This product is one of 17 recalled by New England Compounding Center under a single FDA (Drugs) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.

See all 17 products in this recall →

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