On March 28, 2008, Covidien recalled 32 lots of pre-filled syringes containing heparin sodium USP active pharmaceutical ingredient because there could be potential for a bacterial infection. Covidien?s heparin recall was in response to a notification from Scientific Protein Laboratories (SPL), the company that supplies both Baxter Healthcare and Covidien with the active pharmaceutical ingredient used to make heparin.

Covidien, which was formerly Tyco Healthcare, said no adverse events have been associated with its products. Baxter has reported 785 adverse events with its heparin product, including at least 19 deaths.

Sources: ?Covidien initiates voluntary recall of pre-filled syringes containing heparin,? US Food and Drug Administration Press Release, March 28, 2008; Peggy Peck, ?More heparin recalled because of contamination,? MedPage Today, April 2, 2008 (http://www.medpagetoday.com/ProductAlert/Prescriptions/tb/8996).

The following are the product descriptions and lot numbers for the products included in the Covidien heparin recall: