PlainRecalls
ModerateClass IITerminated

FDA Devices recall · Reported December 30, 2015

BD Vacutainer K2 EDTA (K2E) 5.4mg Plus Blood Collection Tubes. Product Usage: BD Vacutainer¿ tubes are used to collect, transport and process blood in a closed system. These tubes are used for testing serum, plasma or whole blood in the clinical laboratory. The BD Vacutainer¿ Plus K2EDTA Tubes may be used for routine immunohematology testing and blood donor screening. The performance characteristics of these tubes have not been established for immunohematology testing in general: therefore,

Some tubes were manufactured with the stopper not fully inserted into the tube. This may result in the stopper popping-off in a small number of instances which could lead to blood…

Recall #
Z-0456-2016
Affected scope
4,835,000 units
Initiated
November 17, 2015
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
Verify with FDA Devices →
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Becton Dickinson & Company recalled BD Vacutainer K2 EDTA (K2E) 5.4mg Plus Blood Collection Tubes. Product Usage: BD Vac… - a moderate-severity action.

BD Vacutainer K2 EDTA (K2E) 5.4mg Plus Blood Collection Tubes. Product Usage: BD Vac… was recalled by Becton Dickinson & Company in December 30, 2015. Reason: Some tubes were manufactured with the stopper not fully inserted into the tube. This may result in the stoppe…. Check the official notice for the remedy. Verify recall #Z-0456-2016 with the FDA Devices before acting.

The recall

Becton Dickinson & Company issued this moderate-severity FDA Devices recall-Some tubes were manufactured with the stopper not fully inserted into the tube. This may result in the stoppe….

Moderate
severity level
4.8M units
affected scope
Class II
classification
December 30, 2015
reported

Sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Verify recall #Z-0456-2016 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This FDA Devices action (record #Z-0456-2016) was formally reported on December 30, 2015, with the manufacturer initiating the action on November 17, 2015. It is classified under Moderate severity (Class II), with a current status of Terminated. Becton Dickinson & Company is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Franklin Lakes, NJ. Federal records list the affected scope as 4,835,000 units, placing this recall in the million-unit bracket that typically triggers nationwide consumer alerts and retailer sweeps.

The documented reason for this recall is: Some tubes were manufactured with the stopper not fully inserted into the tube. This may result in the stopper popping-off in a small number of instances which could lead to blood exposure and in some cases to blood spl… Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide and the countries of: Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea.. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 3 from FDA Devices - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Medical Devices recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 40,322 medical devices recalls on record

-1,00001,0002,0003,0004,000 20052008201120142017202020232026 1,248
Severity2487872426High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Moderate

Affected scope

4,835,000 units

Related Recalls

6

3 from same agency

Product description

BD Vacutainer K2 EDTA (K2E) 5.4mg Plus Blood Collection Tubes. Product Usage: BD Vacutainer¿ tubes are used to collect, transport and process blood in a closed system. These tubes are used for testing serum, plasma or whole blood in the clinical laboratory. The BD Vacutainer¿ Plus K2EDTA Tubes may be used for routine immunohematology testing and blood donor screening. The performance characteristics of these tubes have not been established for immunohematology testing in general: therefore, users must validate the use of these tubes for their specific assay-instrument/reagent system combinations and specimen storage conditions.

Reason for recall

Some tubes were manufactured with the stopper not fully inserted into the tube. This may result in the stopper popping-off in a small number of instances which could lead to blood exposure and in some cases to blood splatter or spraying.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the FDA Devices recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Severity class Moderate (Class II)
Status Terminated
Recall number Z-0456-2016
Date reported December 30, 2015
Date initiated November 17, 2015
Recalling firm Becton Dickinson & Company
Firm location Franklin Lakes, NJ
Affected scope 4,835,000 units
Distribution Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide and the countries of: Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea.

Profile values are sourced directly from the official FDA Devices enforcement record. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Scale of Impact

4,835,000 units units affected - million-unit bracket.

Regional (<10K units) -
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) -
Large-scale (100K – 1M units) -
Massive (≥1M units) ✓ This recall

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration filings.

What to do with this recall

Match your product against the recall record, then act on the agency remedy.

  • Check the recall number (Z-0456-2016) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status with FDA Devices before acting, recall details can be updated.
  • Follow the documented remedy (refund, replacement, repair, or disposal) rather than general advice. What to do next

This page summarizes the official FDA Devices record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
BD Vacutainer K2 EDTA (K2E) 5.4mg Plus Blood Collection Tubes. Product Usage: BD Vacutainer¿ tubes are used to collect, transport and process blood in a closed system. These tubes are used for testing serum, plasma or whole blood in the clinical laboratory. The BD Vacutainer¿ Plus K2EDTA Tubes may be used for routine immunohematology testing and blood donor screening. The performance characteristics of these tubes have not been established for immunohematology testing in general: therefore, users must validate the use of these tubes for their specific assay-instrument/reagent system combinations and specimen storage conditions.. Recalled by Becton Dickinson & Company. Units affected: 4,835,000 units.
Why was this product recalled?
Some tubes were manufactured with the stopper not fully inserted into the tube. This may result in the stopper popping-off in a small number of instances which could lead to blood exposure and in some cases to blood splatter or spraying.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the FDA Devices on December 30, 2015. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: Z-0456-2016.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide and the countries of: Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea..
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (Z-0456-2016) against your product. Visit the official FDA Devices website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
Should I stop using a recalled medication or medical device?
Do not stop using a recalled medication or device without consulting your healthcare provider first, as abruptly discontinuing treatment could pose its own health risks. Your doctor can advise on alternatives or whether the recall applies to your specific product lot. Check the recall number and lot information against your product packaging.

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Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: FDA Devices, reported December 30, 2015. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.