KARACHI: The Sindh Drug Testing Laboratory Karachi has declared six brands of medical syringes available in the market as substandard after samples failed quality-control tests.
According to the laboratory report, samples of different 3ml and 5ml syringes were collected from markets in Karachi and tested for safety standards. The report found that the auto-disable feature of six syringe brands was not functioning properly, raising serious concerns over possible reuse.
Health experts warn that defective auto-disable syringes can increase the risk of transmitting blood-borne infections, including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, if reused in healthcare settings. DRAP has previously described failure of the auto-disable feature as a high-risk defect because it may lead to cross-contamination and spread of blood-borne diseases.
Authorities are expected to carry out market inspections and take regulatory action against the sale and supply of the affected syringe brands to protect public health.
