The Recall Desk
HighFDA (Devices)·Z-2296-2019·Announced 2019-08-28

BD Vacutainer Tubes Recalled for False Carboxyhemoglobin Results

Becton Dickinson is recalling BD Vacutainer Lithium Heparin blood collection tubes because they may cause false elevation of carboxyhemoglobin results when used with specific instruments.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (medical device) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the criteria for a High severity score.

Plain-English summary

Becton Dickinson & Company is recalling BD Vacutainer Lithium HeparinN (LH) 37 USP Units Blood Collection Tubes, Catalog Number 366664. The recall involves 1,436,228,004 units that were distributed worldwide, including nationwide in the United States.

The recall is due to reports of false elevation of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) results. This issue occurs when venous blood gas samples collected with these specific tubes are analyzed using the IL GEM 4000 instrument. The source text does not report any illnesses, injuries, or deaths associated with this defect.

Healthcare facilities and laboratories should stop using these tubes for venous blood gas samples intended for analysis on the IL GEM 4000 instrument. Users should contact Becton Dickinson for instructions on how to return or dispose of the affected product.

The recalled product

Product
BD Vacutainer Lithium HeparinN (LH) 37 USP Units Blood Collection Tubes, Catalog Number 366664
Affected units
1,436,228,004

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)

  • UDI: (01)30382903666646

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Part of a larger recall action

This product is one of 15 recalled by Becton Dickinson & Company under a single FDA (Devices) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.

See all 15 products in this recall →