B. Braun Recalls Potentially Tainted Heparin

Irvine, CACalifornia-based B. Braun Medical Inc. recently announced the recall of seven lots of heparin, an anticoagulant, due to concerns that they could be tainted with small amounts of oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS), according to the FDA.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">OSCS is reportedly the same substance that was implicated during a heparin crisis in 2008 that led to many people developing serious diseases and some even dying, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In a statement, the company said that the recalled heparin did not pose a serious health risk but that it was being taken off the market "with the support of the US Food and Drug Administration."

FDA spokeswoman Karen Riley added that "there is not a significant public health threat."

Riley said that the B. Braun announcement stemmed from a decision by Scientific Protein to recall three lots of the heparin ingredient that was distributed to a number of manufacturers throughout the US, Japan and Canada, according to the news source.

According to the FDA Web site, heparin is a blood thinner used in the treatment and prevention of blood clots. The voluntary recall is reportedly a precautionary measure.