FDA declares end to years-long IV saline shortage crisis

A long-running shortage of sterile intravenous saline has finally ended, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed on Friday. The crisis began in 2018 but worsened after a key production plant flooded during Hurricane Helene in 2021. The shortage centred on sodium chloride 0.9% injection, a vital IV fluid used widely in hospitals. The main supplier, Baxter International, produces around 60% of the country's IV fluid. When Hurricane Helene struck in autumn 2021, flooding damaged its manufacturing site in Marion, North Carolina. This plant alone accounted for 60% of the nation's IV fluid output.

Three other companies share the remaining market: B. Braun Medical (23%), ICU Medical, and Fresenius Kabi. The disruption at Baxter's facility left hospitals struggling to secure enough supplies for years. The FDA's announcement marks the first time since 2018 that the shortage has been officially declared over.

With the shortage now resolved, hospitals can expect more reliable access to sodium chloride 0.9% injections. The FDA's update follows years of supply chain strain, particularly after the 2021 flood at Baxter's plant. No further shortages of this product have been reported.