Severity
Moderate
BD SurePathTM Preservative Collection Vials, catalog numbers 490505, 490527, 491095, 491096, and 491097. SurePath¿ Preservative Fluid is designed for use with the PrepStain¿ System. SurePath¿ Preservative Fluid is an alcohol-based, preservation solution that serves as a transport, preservative and antibacterial medium for gynecologic specimens.
Reported: December 28, 2016 Initiated: February 12, 2016 #Z-0877-2017 16,682.396 units
Becton Dickinson & Co. issued this FDA Devices recall on December 28, 2016. Classified as Moderate severity (Class II). Approximately 16,682.396 units are affected. The recall was issued because: BD has confirmed that a portion of BD SurePath" collection vials associated with specific production lots may contain c…. This recall notice is sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.
Recall Insight
This FDA Devices action (record #Z-0877-2017) was formally reported on December 28, 2016, with the manufacturer initiating the action on February 12, 2016. It is classified under Moderate severity (Class II), with a current status of Terminated. Becton Dickinson & Co. is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Sparks, MD. Federal records indicate 16,682.396 units are affected, placing this recall in the million-unit bracket that typically triggers nationwide consumer alerts and retailer sweeps.
The documented reason for this recall is: BD has confirmed that a portion of BD SurePath" collection vials associated with specific production lots may contain caps that are cracked which can lead to leaking of the preservative fluid. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: Worldwide Distribution - USA (nationwide) Distribution including BB(Barbados) and PR (Puerto Rico) and to the states of : AK, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, N…. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.
To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by FDA Devices. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 10 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.
Recall Distribution by Severity Class
Units Affected
16,682.396
Related Recalls
6
6 from same agency
Product Description
BD SurePathTM Preservative Collection Vials, catalog numbers 490505, 490527, 491095, 491096, and 491097. SurePath¿ Preservative Fluid is designed for use with the PrepStain¿ System. SurePath¿ Preservative Fluid is an alcohol-based, preservation solution that serves as a transport, preservative and antibacterial medium for gynecologic specimens.
Reason for Recall
BD has confirmed that a portion of BD SurePath" collection vials associated with specific production lots may contain caps that are cracked which can lead to leaking of the preservative fluid.
Details
- Recalling Firm
- Becton Dickinson & Co.
- Units Affected
- 16,682.396
- Distribution
- Worldwide Distribution - USA (nationwide) Distribution including BB(Barbados) and PR (Puerto Rico) and to the states of : AK, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV and WY., and to the countries of: China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, and Taiwan. 480 US customers and 3 US distributors. Product was also shipped to 10 ex-US regions. 15 US government sites received affected product
- Location
- Sparks, MD
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Severity class | Moderate (Class II) |
| Status | Terminated |
| Recall number | Z-0877-2017 |
| Date reported | December 28, 2016 |
| Date initiated | February 12, 2016 |
| Recalling firm | Becton Dickinson & Co. |
| Units affected | 16,682.396 |
| Distribution | Worldwide Distribution - USA (nationwide) Distribution including BB(Barbados) and PR (Puerto Rico) and to the states of : AK, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, N… |
Profile values are sourced directly from the official FDA Devices enforcement record. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What product was recalled? ▼
BD SurePathTM Preservative Collection Vials, catalog numbers 490505, 490527, 491095, 491096, and 491097. SurePath¿ Preservative Fluid is designed for use with the PrepStain¿ System. SurePath¿ Preservative Fluid is an alcohol-based, preservation solution that serves as a transport, preservative and antibacterial medium for gynecologic specimens.. Recalled by Becton Dickinson & Co.. Units affected: 16,682.396.
Why was this product recalled? ▼
BD has confirmed that a portion of BD SurePath" collection vials associated with specific production lots may contain caps that are cracked which can lead to leaking of the preservative fluid.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the FDA Devices on December 28, 2016. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: Z-0877-2017.
Where was the recalled product distributed? ▼
Distribution: Worldwide Distribution - USA (nationwide) Distribution including BB(Barbados) and PR (Puerto Rico) and to the states of : AK, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV and WY., and to the countries of: China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, and Taiwan. 480 US customers and 3 US distributors. Product was also shipped to 10 ex-US regions. 15 US government sites received affected product.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall? ▼
Check the product description and recall number (Z-0877-2017) 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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Data Sources
Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.
- Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
- Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
- Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
- Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)
Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov
Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).