IV Solution Supply Disruption Updates
The closure of Baxter’s manufacturing plant in North Carolina due to damage from Hurricane Helene has impacted the supply of IV solution. This plant produces approximately 60% — or 1.5 million bags — of the IV solutions used daily in the U.S. The Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA) is closely monitoring this evolving situation and is actively collaborating with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the American Hospital Association, and federal authorities to address the needs of Alabama’s hospitals.
If your hospital has an urgent need, please get in touch with your regional Emergency Preparedness Coalition Coordinator. This map provides the contact information needed.
LATEST UPDATES
11-7-24: Baxter expects to restart a second IV solutions manufacturing line at its North Cove, N.C., facility next week. Combined with a line that resumed last week, these two lines represent about 50% of the plant’s pre-Hurricane Helene production, including 85% of its one-liter IV solutions commonly used in hospitals. Initial shipments may begin by late November. The facility aims to restart peritoneal dialysis and irrigation lines by early December, with all lines operational by year-end. A second temporary bridge has been installed to support increased truck traffic, accelerating recovery efforts.
10-31-24: Baxter announced it restarted the highest-throughput IV solutions manufacturing line. At its peak operation (prior to Hurricane Helene), this line represented approximately 25% of the site’s total production and approximately 50% of the site’s production of one-liter IV solutions, the most commonly used size by hospitals and clinics. It is important to note that the earliest that new North Cove product could start to ship is late November. Baxter does not yet have a timeline for when we expect North Cove production to be fully restored to pre-hurricane levels.
10-28-24: Baxter issued a release announcing that the FDA has authorized extended use dates for certain Baxter products amid the ongoing IV solutions shortage. The authorization allows providers to use products up to 24 months after the manufacture date without relabeling the products.
- Baxter Product Codes, Lot/Serial Numbers, Labeled Expiration Dates, and Extended Expiration Dates that equal to 24 months from date of manufacture
- Hurricane Helene Clinical Resources (10/15/24)
- Hurricane Helene Updates
- October 7 Update
- October 1 Medical Information Letter for Home Dialysis Customers
- September 30 Medical Information Letter for Healthcare Facilities
- September 29 Initial Notification Letter
- September 29 Press Release
- Fluid Shortages – Suggestions for Management and Conservation (ASHP) – Updated 10/11/24
- Guidelines on Managing Drug Product Shortages (ASHP)
- Product Disruption Brief (Vizient)
- Adult/Pediatric IV Push Medication List (Vizient)
- Market analysis and functional equivalents device report designed to identify up to the top three alternatives from other manufacturers to the IV and irrigation solutions (ECRI)
- Guidance for Addressing Product Shortages during Disruptions in Manufacturing (NHIA)
- Suggested Management of Dehydration Secondary to Diarrheal Illness (WHO)
- 2023 American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting: Carbohydrate-containing Clear Liquids with or without Protein, Chewing Gum, and Pediatric Fasting Duration—A Modular Update of the 2017 American Society of Anesthesia
- Map of Regional Emergency Preparedness Coalition Coordinator
- Baxter officials announced that they have set up a dedicated email address that will be active on Oct. 11 that hospitals can use to contact the company with questions related to the IV solution situation, particularly if they are in dire need of product. The email address is hurricanehelenesupport@baxter.com.
- AlaHA: Danne Howard, dhoward@alaha.org
- Resource Page: Updates on IV Fluid Supplies After Helene Forces Closure of Baxter Manufacturing Plant
- October 11: FDA Issues Guidance for Compounding Certain Drug Products in Response to IV Solutions Supply Disruption
- October 9: Hospitals Invited to Oct. 10 Call with HHS, Baxter Officials to Receive Update on IV Solution Supplies
- October 8: Baxter to Increase Allocations for IV Solution Supplies to Hospitals Effective Oct. 9
- October 7: AHA Letter to President Urges Administration to Take Immediate Action to Address IV Solution Supply Shortage as a Result of Helene
10-15-24: Baxter launched a new webpage with resources for hospitals’ product management and conservation strategies. In addition, Baxter said shipments to the U.S. from two Baxter sites abroad that were already able to export products “started last week, and more are on the way.”
10-11-24: The FDA has released an immediately-in-effect guidance titled “Temporary Policies for Compounding Certain Parenteral Drug Products.” The FDA has added three new parenteral drug products to the Drug Shortages Database. The agency now considers Dextrose 70% IV solution, Lactated Ringers IV Solution, and Peritoneal Dialysis Solution to not be commercially available in adequate supply to meet national demand.
10-9-24: HHS Secretary Becerra released a letter to healthcare leaders and stakeholders. In the letter, the Secretary provided information on hurricane relief efforts, including important updates about Baxter and the ongoing shortage of normal saline IV fluids, normal saline irrigation fluid, sterile water irrigation, and dextrose 5% IV fluids.
10-10-24: Hospitals Invited to 10/10 Call with HHS, Baxter Officials
Hospital and health system leaders were invited to participate in a call hosted by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. ET to hear updates from officials at HHS and Baxter about the response to the effects of Hurricane Helene on Baxter’s manufacturing facility in North Carolina.
10-9-24: HHS Secretary Becerra released a letter to healthcare leaders and stakeholders. In the letter, the Secretary provided information on hurricane relief efforts, including important updates about Baxter and the ongoing shortage of normal saline IV fluids, normal saline irrigation fluid, sterile water irrigation, and dextrose 5% IV fluids.
10-8-24: During a call hosted by HHS and other federal agencies yesterday afternoon, Baxter officials announced that they are changing allocation for some IV solution supplies from 40% to 60%, beginning today, October 9. Baxter expects to be at 70% by the end of October and 90%-100% by the end of the year.
10-7-24: The Alabama Department of Public Health issued an Emergency Order of the State Health Officer