Posted on: March 11, 2022
Urgent Shortage: 0.9% Sodium Chloride (NS) Injection 10 mL vials
What I need to know?
SITUATION:
- There is a national shortage of 0.9% Sodium Chloride (NS) Injection 10 mL vials.
- Supply of 10 mL NS POLYAMPS is unstable.
MITIGATION:
- 10 mL NS VIALS and POLYAMPS supply will be decreasing in patient care units.
- Island Health temporarily approves the use of IV NS mini-bags for reconstitution/dilution of medications during this shortage (50 and 100 mL preferred).
- 10 mL NS VIALS and POLYAMPS will be prioritized for:
- EPIDURAL INSERTION and EPIDURAL DIRECT BOLUS USE (OR, Obstetrics).
- At this time, NS VIALS and POLYAMPS will also remain on all OR trays.
SAFETY:
- NS mini-bags MUST be discarded after single use
- Use of IV mini-bag for multiple accesses increases the risk of contamination.
- Do NOT access the NS mini-bag for reconstitution of more than ONE medication.
- At this time NS mini-bags are NOT approved for epidural insertion/direct bolus.
- Prefilled NS syringes must ONLY be used for flushing vascular access devices.
- Do NOT use for reconstitution/dilution of medications.
What I need to do?
NURSING
- Use IV NS mini- bags for reconstitution of medications during this shortage.
“ONE bag - ONE patient - ONE use - then DISCARD”
- Do NOT use prefilled NS syringes for reconstitution of medication.
- If Epidural direct bolus is required outside of OR/Obstetrics and NS VIAL/POLYAMP not available, request from OR.
PHARMACY
- Reserve 10 mL NS VIALS and POLYAMPS for OR trays.
CLINICAL LEADERS
- Post and share this memo with your teams.
Questions: Contact your Pharmacy Site Coordinator or MedicationSafetyConsultants@viha.ca