Becton Dickinson blood specimen collection - supply disruption (update)

The MHRA has approved 9 million BD tubes secured from US stocks and BD expects production capacity to recover through September. Measures set out in the original alert have therefore been updated, as the supply situation is no longer as constrained.

SPS commentary:

The following measures are detailed in the letter:

    - Testing activity in primary and community care, in line with the best practice guidance, can resume, stocks permitting, from 17 September.
    - It is important to avoid an immediate surge in demand for tubes beyond June and July 2021 baseline levels, so as not to potentially create further constraint in the supply chain.  Any backlog of tests should be worked through over a period of at least eight weeks, prioritising as required, to spread the demand for tubes.
    - Acute trusts, community hospitals and mental health trusts should maintain the measures set out in the letter of 26 August until Friday 8 October. This means continuing to reduce demand by a minimum of 25% compared with the same activity in June and July 2021. These reductions should be made in line with the best practice guidance.
    - The situation reporting established for acute trusts, community hospitals and mental health trusts will also continue to Friday 8 October.
    - To avoid creating additional pressure on supply, organisations should regularly review their stock holding and upcoming planned care requirements, and aim not to re-stock to more than one week’s worth of tubes based on demand in June and July 2021.

 

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency