FDA provides guidance on conserving blood specimen tubes

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its medical device shortage list to include all blood specimen collection tubes and recommended that health care providers, laboratory directors and others consider certain strategies to conserve their use, including sharing samples between laboratories and using lateral flow tests. The agency said it continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as information becomes available. The shortage previously was limited to sodium citrate tubes. (FDA update, 1/19/22)