CDC Warns Of “Critical Shortage” Of Vials Used To Collect Samples For Blood Cultures

CNN (7/24, McPhillips) reports, “There is a ‘critical shortage’ of certain vials used to collect samples for blood cultures, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned health care providers on Tuesday.” The CDC said, “This shortage has the potential to disrupt patient care by leading to delays in diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or other challenges in the clinical management of patients with certain infectious diseases.” During “a call with clinicians...on Tuesday, Chris Beddard, vice president of microbiology with BD Life Sciences, said that ‘the issues are more complex’ than originally communicated by the supplier, but the company is making certain adaptations – including a temporary shift from plastic to glass for some vials and strategies to manage allocation and transportation – that should help improve the situation by September.”