Accusure Insulin Syringe Recall: Needles May Detach from Syringe

The FDA issued a MedWatch safety alert on Tuesday to notify healthcare professionals and patients about a massive insulin syringe recall involving 250 million Accusure insulin syringes manufactured by Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, which could have defective needles that detach from the syringe.

The Accusure Insulin Syringe recall involves all syringes distributed between January 2002 and October 2009 to wholesale and retail pharmacies throughout the United States. Although no injuries have been reported, problems with the syringes could cause needles to remain stuck in the skin after an injection, push back into the syringe or become stuck in the insulin vial.

A prior recall for Accusure Insulin Syringes was issued in August for only two lots. However, according to an Associated Press report, Qualitest officials expanded the recall to include all Accusure syringes after receiving learning of a needle detaching from a syringe that was not included in the in the first two lots.

The recall now includes syringes with the following descriptions and NDC numbers:

• 28G 1/2cc, NDC 0603-6995-21
• 28G 1cc, NDC 0603-6996-21
• 29G 1/2cc NDC 0603-6997-21
• 29G 1cc, NDC 0603-6998-21
• 30G 1/2cc, NDC 0603-999-21
• 30G 1cc, NDC 0603-7000-21
• 31G 1/2cc, NDC 0603-7001-21
• 31G 1cc, NDC 0603-7002-21

Consumers who have any recalled Accusure insulin syringes should contact the company at 1-800-444-4011 for more information. Anyone who has experienced an adverse reaction due to these defective insulin syringes should report the incident to the FDA’s MedWatch program at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm. If serious injuries were caused by the syringe needle detaching in the skin, product liability lawyers recommend that the defective syringe be preserved until after it has been determined whether a lawsuit will be pursued.