NS prefilled syringes vs vials

PLEASE NOTE:   Posts made to this forum should not be considered as the expressed opinions of, nor should be considered endorsed by, the Medication Safety Officer’s Society (MSOS) or the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). 

Make sure your email is up-to-date
In order to continue to receive updates from MSOS, as well as forum posts and other valuable information as a member of MSOS, please be sure to update your email address with us, whenever it changes. If you need assistance doing so, please send an email to cmichalek@ismp.org. 

8 posts / 0 new
Log in or register to post comments
Last post
Fri, 06/26/2026 - 11:35
#1
Ashley Pierson
Ashley Pierson's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 weeks 1 day ago
Joined: 03/03/2025 - 08:51
NS prefilled syringes vs vials

Hello!

Based upon one of the recent ISMP quarterly action items, our institution (pediatric) is attempting to transition frontline staff's workflow from using NS prefilled syringes as a diluent to NS vials. Currently the syringes (BD posiflush) are readily available, managed by our supply chain, and is used as a diluent as easily as it is to flush/maintain IV access. NS vials are managed by pharmacy, stored in an ADS, and requires staff to override for removal (which results in a MAR action- EPIC).

We have run into several barriers and am reaching out for any insight.

- Has anyone attempted this transition and what were the results?
- Has anyone found a prefilled syringe that the manufacturer's IFU supports using as a diluent? We are unable to find alternatives.
- If you have had success with this, how was it operationalized? Does pharmacy own ordering, stocking, par levels? Does supply chain manage all of this?
- If pharmacy manages this, are the vials placed in an ADS? Are there any ties with the eMR to support?

Thank you!

Top