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Discussion

Saline shortage

I have started a new job as an infusion therapy nurse. One of my first tasks is to locate 0.9% NS for use with Remicade infusions. We are currently on back order from our distributor (Henry Schein). I know B. Braun was approved to begin shipping sodium chloride from their facility in Germany, as well as another company from Spain. Hospira is currently holding their 0.9% NS for chemotherapy patients. I would appreciate any tips you may have on other potential sources to help us through this shortage. We are ideally seeking 250 mL bags of 0.9% NS. Thank you!

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    Can anyone explain why there is a shortage???

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    There is a national shortage of NS 0.9%. I'd suggest the obvious--that your clinic check in with other distributors--but for the moment, the recommendation is to conserve as much as possible.

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    Current Drug Shortage Bulletin: Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection Bags

    Baxter has 0.9% sodium chloride on shortage due to increased demand.1

    BBraun had 0.9% sodium chloride on allocation due to increased demand.2 Hospira cites increased demand as the reason for the shortage

    http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/06/22/323679204/shortage-of-saline-solution-has-hospitals-on-edge

    http://www.jems.com/article/news/how-guide-your-agency-through-saline-sho

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    We recently had to get 0.9%NS from France. They would only ship limited quantities and it was triple the price. Hope you find something :)

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    Hospira and Baxter were the 2 manufacturers we used in the hospital. I believe Baxter products came out of Canada.

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    Go to j2stactical.com and contact the owner. I know he supplies saline and is able to get it.

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    • Author

    Thank you! I appreciate any tips at this point. I did find a couple of boxes of 250 mL bags but they are about 4x the normal cost. From what I am hearing on some other boards, that sounds like the norm for those who have had to order from over seas. I hope they get this thing figured out soon! With Ebola in the news, if by some horrific instance we have a pandemic, this country would be in serious trouble. Thanks for the lead. I will look him up.

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    • Author

    Thank you. I know there is a Canadian distributor who has it but they can't/won't ship across the border. We joked about having it shipped to a hotel, mailing it across the border & coming back. Of course, we would never really do that, but it is sad that it is so difficult to find. When this started, they estimated that it would be a short-term shortage. That has not proven to be the case. I found some locally for 4x the price, but they don't have much. Thanks for your help. You don't know who the French distributor is do you?

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    • Author

    I have a "temporary saline account" request in with them now. If they approve our application, hopefully we can get some. Hospira told us they are allocating for chemotherapy only, which I understand. I found a couple of boxes for 4x the normal cost. If worse comes to worst, we will pursue those. Thanks for your help!

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    • Author

    Is j2stactical.com a side business :)?

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    • Expert

    10/16/2014 FDA updates on saline drug shortage - Food and Drug .

    [10/16/2014] In response to the ongoing shortage of 0.9% sodium chloride injection (normal saline), B. Braun Medical Inc. of Bethlehem, Pa., will temporarily distribute normal saline in the United States from its manufacturing facility in Germany. FDA is temporarily exercising its discretion regarding the distribution of B. Braun's saline product from Germany, in addition to Baxter's saline product from Spain and Fresenius Kabi's saline product from Norway, to help address this critical shortage, which poses a serious threat to patients.

    FDA inspected B. Braun's facility in Melsungen, Germany where its normal saline product is made to ensure the facility currently meets FDA standards. FDA asks that health care professionals contact B. Braun directly to obtain the product.... .

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    • Expert

    Ask your local pharmacy provider for name of local compounding pharmacy: could produce for individual patient use if supply critical.

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