The U.S. currently faces a shortage of IV fluid due to Hurricane-related supply chain disruptions affecting North Carolina facilities operated by Baxter.
Baxter expects to restart a second IV solutions manufacturing line within the next week, the company announced on November 7. Along with the first line that resumed production last week, the two lines comprise approximately 50% of the North Cove, North Carolina, site’s total pre-Hurricane Helene production of IV solutions and about 85% of one-liter solutions production. Hospitals and clinics most commonly use the one-liter solutions. The earliest the facility could begin shipments is late this month.
Baxter expects their peritoneal dialysis and irrigation solutions lines to be the next to resume production and would begin by early December. Baxter expects all lines to restart by the end of the year, but does not have a timeline on when total production will return to pre-hurricane levels. The company also said that it has evaluated and approved more than 200 allocation exception requests to support neonatal and pediatric patient needs.
Access the full press release from Baxter to learn more.