PlainRecalls
ModerateClass IITerminated

FDA Devices recall · Reported April 15, 2020

"HEMOGLOBIN A1c CALIBRATORS *** REF 4P52-01 *** 307261/R03 *** S4P5X0 *** FOR USE WITH ARCHITECT" - Product Usage: use in the calibration of the Hemoglobin A1c assay.

Calibrator level 2 bottle may have been manufactured incorrectly for a portion of the lot. The manufacturer observed no impact to assay performance between the HbA1c concentration…

Recall #
Z-1688-2020
Affected scope
198 Kits
Initiated
May 22, 2019
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The recall

Abbott Laboratories issued this moderate-severity FDA Devices recall — Calibrator level 2 bottle may have been manufactured incorrectly for a portion of the lot. The manufacturer o….

Moderate
severity level
Class II
classification
April 15, 2020
reported

Sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Verify recall #Z-1688-2020 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This FDA Devices action (record #Z-1688-2020) was formally reported on April 15, 2020, with the manufacturer initiating the action on May 22, 2019. It is classified under Moderate severity (Class II), with a current status of Terminated. Abbott Laboratories is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Irving, TX. Federal records list the affected scope as 198 Kits.

The documented reason for this recall is: Calibrator level 2 bottle may have been manufactured incorrectly for a portion of the lot. The manufacturer observed no impact to assay performance between the HbA1c concentration range of 5.33% to 6.87%. However, outsi… Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide distribution in the states of AR, AZ, CA, FKL GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, and WI; and countries of Austria, Germany, Ita…. 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, 6 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 — 40,409 medical devices recalls on record

-1,00001,0002,0003,0004,0005,000 20052008201120142017202020232026 1,243

Where this recall sits in the database

Severity2366872097High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 100,165 recalls in the database, 23,668 are high severity, 72,097 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.

Severity

Moderate

Affected scope

198 Kits

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product description

"HEMOGLOBIN A1c CALIBRATORS *** REF 4P52-01 *** 307261/R03 *** S4P5X0 *** FOR USE WITH ARCHITECT" - Product Usage: use in the calibration of the Hemoglobin A1c assay.

Reason for recall

Calibrator level 2 bottle may have been manufactured incorrectly for a portion of the lot. The manufacturer observed no impact to assay performance between the HbA1c concentration range of 5.33% to 6.87%. However, outside of this range, a bias of greater than 3% may be seen with patient results. The device failure that is associated with this recall can result in potentially negatively and positively biased patient test results for HbA1c. The firm is investigating the root cause.

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-1688-2020
Date reported April 15, 2020
Date initiated May 22, 2019
Recalling firm Abbott Laboratories
Firm location Irving, TX
Affected scope 198 Kits
Distribution Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide distribution in the states of AR, AZ, CA, FKL GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, and WI; and countries of Austria, Germany, Italy, South Africa, an…

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

What to do with this recall

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

  • Check the recall number (Z-1688-2020) 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?
"HEMOGLOBIN A1c CALIBRATORS *** REF 4P52-01 *** 307261/R03 *** S4P5X0 *** FOR USE WITH ARCHITECT" - Product Usage: use in the calibration of the Hemoglobin A1c assay.. Recalled by Abbott Laboratories. Units affected: 198 Kits.
Why was this product recalled?
Calibrator level 2 bottle may have been manufactured incorrectly for a portion of the lot. The manufacturer observed no impact to assay performance between the HbA1c concentration range of 5.33% to 6.87%. However, outside of this range, a bias of greater than 3% may be seen with patient results. The device failure that is associated with this recall can result in potentially negatively and positively biased patient test results for HbA1c. The firm is investigating the root cause.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the FDA Devices on April 15, 2020. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: Z-1688-2020.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide distribution in the states of AR, AZ, CA, FKL GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, and WI; and countries of Austria, Germany, Italy, South Africa, and Spain..
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (Z-1688-2020) 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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Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Data Sources

Source: FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA federal recall databases. This recall: FDA Devices, reported April 15, 2020.

  • 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)

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.

Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records — no number is typed in by an editor. 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 June 2026.