FDA’s Discontinuance List includes clinical laboratory testing supplies for the first time
As previously reported by the COVID-19 STAT Intelligence Briefings Service, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently begun publishing a list of clinical laboratory supply shortages (See FDA Enhances Medical Device Shortage Resources to Better Reflect the Needs of Clinical Laboratories). On Jan. 22, 2021, the FDA began reporting on another type of supply chain issue that clinical laboratories should be aware of.
The FDA has developed a “Discontinuance List”, which it describes as a “separate, publicly-available, up-to-date list of the devices for which the FDA has been informed by the manufacturer have been discontinued.” This list is kept up to date and includes clinical laboratory supplies.
The FDA’s Discontinuance List has actually been active since mid-August 2020 but did not list any supplies or equipment that pertained to clinical laboratories until recently. Now the list is more useful to laboratorians.
Clinical laboratory leaders wishing to keep track of clinical laboratory supplies will want to keep up to date with supplies that are being discontinued by manufacturers to avoid supply chain shortages and disruptions in testing capabilities. Laboratorians wishing to access this resource can do so here.
Related Resource:
FDA: Medical Device Shortages During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
