Important Safety Alerts

Important Safety Alerts

Medical Device Safety Alert: Baxa Abacus Total Parenteral Nutrition Calculation Software

28 May 2012

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States issued a Class I medical device recall concerning Abacus Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) Calculation Software [Catalogue No: 8300-0045: Abacus Calculator Only (Abacus CE); 8300-0046: Abacus Single Work Station (Abacus SE); 8300-0047: Abacus Multi-Work Station (Abacus ME)] manufactured by Baxa Corporation.

According to the FDA, the Abacus TPN Calculating Software is an FDA Class I Laboratory Information Management System Windows-based program used in ordering total parenteral nutrition.

According to the manufacturer, a number of errors have been reported by Abacus software users as a result of ordering salt based parenteral nutrition ingredients on an ion based ordering template. Abacus TPN Calculation Software is designed and intended to allow the ordering of electrolytes in only one of two ways: as a salt (such as calcium gluconate 10%) or as an elemental ion (such as calcium). However, if a dosage is entered into the system based on one method, when the template is configured for the other method, a dosing error can occur. The problem associated with mix-ups related to salt-based or ion-based ordering of electrolytes is not exclusive to calcium gluconate.

For details, please visit the following FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ListofRecalls/ucm305744.htm

According to the local supplier, the affected device was not distributed in Hong Kong. If you are in possession of the affected products, please contact your supplier for necessary actions.

Posted 28 May 2012

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