Events

Field Safety Notices about pH Indicator Strips (non-bleeding) pH 0-6.0 & 2.0-9.0

According to Health Products Regulatory Authority, this field safety notices involved a device in Ireland that was produced by Merck Serono.

What is this?

Field safety notices are communications sent out by medical device manufacturers or their representatives in relation to actions that they may be taking in relation to their product that is on the market. These are mainly for health workers, but also for users. They can include recalls and alerts.

Learn more about the data here
  • Type of Event
    Field Safety Notice
  • Event Number
    SN2014(24)
  • Date
    2014-05-09
  • Event Country
    Ireland
  • Event Source
    HPRA
  • Event Source URL
    http://www.hpra.ie/homepage/medical-devices/safety-information/safety-notices/item?t=/ph-indicator-strips-(non-bleeding)-ph-0-6.0-2.0-9.0-priority-2-warning-caution-in-use&id=d2cef925-9782-6eee-9b55-ff00008c97d0
  • Notes / Alerts
    "Irish data is current through April 2019. All of the data comes from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (Ireland), except for the categories Manufacturer Parent Company and Product Classification.
    The Parent Company and the Product Classification were added by ICIJ.
    The parent company information is based on 2017 public records. The device classification information comes from FDA’s Product Classification by Review Panel, based on matches of data from the U.S. and Ireland."
  • Extra notes in the data
  • Reason
    A communication issued by merck serono to irish customers in may 2013 indicated that an additional ‘safety feature’ had been introduced for these products, to facilitate their use in non-buffered solutions.  merck serono has informed the irish medicines board (imb) that the safety feature introduced in 2013 does not function as intended over the lifetime of the product.  the manufacturer has issued the attached field safety notice (fsn) to users of these devices to reiterate that these devices should only be used with gastric aspirate. merck serono is also implementing a revision to the instructions for use (ifu) for their ph indicator strips in order to strengthen the warning regarding use with low buffered solutions.  the imb wishes to remind users to use these devices with caution.
  • Action
    The IMB advises users:  (1) Merck Serono pH Indicator strips (0-6.0 product code 090120604 and 2.0-9.0 product code 090120603) should be used with caution.  a. These strips are only for use with gastric aspirate  b. These strips are not suitable for use with low buffered solutions  c. These strips are not suitable for use with any kind of water (distilled, sterilised, potable, bottled or tap water)  (2) Forward this IMB Safety Notice to all those within your organisation that need to be aware of this information. Please also pass this Safety Notice on to any end users or organisations where these devices may have been distributed.

Device

pH Indicator Strips (non-bleeding) pH 0-6.0 & 2.0-9.0
  • Model / Serial
  • Product Description
    pH Indicator Strips (non-bleeding) pH 0-6.0 & 2.0-9.0 Priority 2 – Warning Caution In Use
  • Manufacturer
    Merck Serono

Manufacturer

Merck Serono