An official website of the United States government
07/10/2024: Lab Advisory: Impending Shortage of Blood Culture Media Bottles from BD Life Sciences
Audience: Clinical Laboratory Professionals
Level: Laboratory Advisory
On June 11, 2024, BD Life Sciences sent a letter to inform BD BACTEC Blood Culture System Users that they may experience intermittent delays in supply of some BD BACTEC blood culture media bottles over the coming months.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working with BD Life Sciences to learn more about these supply challenges and to ensure impacted users are informed regarding best practices for blood culture utilization and quality assurance.
Please review the FDA recommendations for the development of prioritization and conservation strategies regarding the use of blood culture media bottles and join the next CDC Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS): Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) Call on Monday July 15, 2024, at 3:00 PM Eastern time for more information. Prior to the call, questions may be submitted to DLSinquiries@cdc.gov.
We encourage you to share this message widely with your network(s).
Opt in to receive updates from the CDC Laboratory Outreach Communication System.
Online Resources
- June 2024 BD Life Sciences Letter to Customers | Medline
- Disruptions in Availability of BD BACTEC Blood Culture Media Bottles – Letter to Health Care Providers | FDA
- Medical Device Shortages List | FDA
- Preventing Adult Blood Culture Contamination: A Quality Tool for Clinical Laboratory Professionals | CDC
- Blood Culture Contamination: An Overview for Infection Control and Antibiotic Stewardship Programs Working with the Clinical Laboratory | CDC
- Diagnostic Excellence: A New Quality Tool to Prevent Blood Culture Contamination | CDC
Questions?
- If you are a clinical or public health laboratory professional, contact LOCS.
- For media inquiries, contact the CDC Newsroom.
- For all other questions, contact CDC-INFO.
Thank you,
The Laboratory Outreach Communication System
Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) | Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS)
Center for Laboratory Systems and Response (CLSR)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)