bioMerieux, Inc.: BacT/ALERT - FA Reagent Bottle The BacT/ALERT Microbial Detection System is used to determine if microorganisms are present in blood or other normally sterile body fluid samples taken from a patient suspected of having bacteremial/fungemia. The BacT/ALERT System and culture bottles provide both a microbial detection system and a culture media with suitable nutritional and environmental conditions for organisms commonly encountered in blood infections and other normally sterile body fluid infections. An inoculated bottle is placed into the instrument where it is incubated and continuously monitored for the presence of microorganisms that will grow in the BacT/ALERT FA bottle. BacT/ALERT FA Culture Bottles are used with the BacT/ALERT Microbial Detection System in qualitative procedures for enhanced recovery and detection of aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (bacterial and fungi) from blood and other normally sterile body fluids.

Recall number

Z-2244-2011

Recalling firm

bioMerieux, Inc.

Product

BacT/ALERT - FA Reagent Bottle The BacT/ALERT Microbial Detection System is used to determine if microorganisms are present in blood or other normally sterile body fluid samples taken from a patient suspected of having bacteremial/fungemia. The BacT/ALERT System and culture bottles provide both a microbial detection system and a culture media with suitable nutritional and environmental conditions for organisms commonly encountered in blood infections and other normally sterile body fluid infections. An inoculated bottle is placed into the instrument where it is incubated and continuously monitored for the presence of microorganisms that will grow in the BacT/ALERT FA bottle. BacT/ALERT FA Culture Bottles are used with the BacT/ALERT Microbial Detection System in qualitative procedures for enhanced recovery and detection of aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (bacterial and fungi) from blood and other normally sterile body fluids.

Status

Terminated

Initiated

2011-04-13

Posted

2011-05-24

Terminated

2012-04-03

Reason

The charcoal suspension in a portion of the lot does not meet the intended density.

Root cause

Other

Action

BioMerieux sent an Urgent Product Removal Notice dated April 13, 2011, to all affected customers. The notice identified the product, the problem, and the action to be taken by the customer. Customers were instructed to: Evaluate positive results adhering to their institution's protocols for determining false versus true positives. Negative bottles should be checked by smear and/or subculture at some point prior to discarding as negative. Any remaining inventory of BacT/ALERT FA culture bottle lot 1027481 should be destroyed in accordance with their facility's policies and procedures. An Acknowledgement and Product Replacement Form was included to be completed and returned to bioMerieux or credit or replacement of unused bottles.

Quantity

327,700 bottles

Distribution

Worldwide Distribution - USA (nationwide) and the countries of China, Tokyo, South Korea, Canada, Sweden, Austria, Poland, and Belgium

Lot, serial or model codes

Catalog number: 259791, Lot umber 1027481, Expiry: December 8, 2011

510(k) numbers

["K020813"]

PMA numbers

not on file

Product code

MDB

Firm FEI

3002769706

Firm city

Durham

Firm state

NC

Firm country

not on file

Cite as

FDA Medical Device Recalls (openFDA) (U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA)), device-recall-0001-of-0001.json.zip, sha256 b87518bfe2e8, published 2026-09-28

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