Shortage: Prefilled 0.9% Sodium Chloride (saline) Intravenous (IV) lock/ flush syringes

The FDA issued recommendations to health care providers to conserve pre-filled 0·9% sodium chloride intravenously administered solutions, which are in short supply because of an increase in demand during the COVID-19 public health emergency pandemic and recent industry supply chain challenges. The FDA is working with manufacturers to assist them in mitigating the shortages.

Flush Syringe Conservation Strategies

Once all inventory of saline flush syringes is in the pharmacy, employ the following pharmacy conservation strategies:

• Reserve inventory by reducing floor stock quantities
• Procure and dispense 10 mL (diameter) flush saline syringe that contains smaller volumes of saline (for example, 3 mL or 5 mL) for use with central venous catheters.
• Use bag and vial systems to maximize the use of pre-mixed medications and reconstitute or dilute drugs as available.
• Consider using alternative methods of reconstitution or diluting, such as pharmacy-made infusions.
• To prepare medications, use small bags of 0·9% sodium chloride.

Recommendations for storage

If you have pre-filled 0·9% sodium chloride single-dose vials/ intravenously administered solutions and are not using them immediately, store the vials in the fridge (2-8°C or 36-46°F) until needed. Do not freeze the solutions. Be sure to discard any vial that has been frozen. Always use within 24 hours of opening.

The FDA has issued recommendations to healthcare professionals to conserve pre-filled 0·9% sodium chloride intravenously administered solutions. The FDA is working with manufacturers to assist them in mitigating the shortages of normal saline flush options.

For any adverse reactions, more solutions to combat this current shortage, or for more information, please visit: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/conserving-prefilled-09-sodium-chloride-saline-intravenously-administered