A routine task with big impact
While flushing may seem like just another task, it’s an important part of maintaining patency of the line and reducing the risk of complications, including occlusion, or premature catheter failure. In addition, flushing before and after medication is a strongly recommended step in medication delivery, helping prevent contact between incompatible medicines and ensure that the entire dose of medication is delivered.
PosiFlush™ Syringes are designed with quality and improved outcomes in mind
Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice guidelines published by Infusion Nurses Society (INS) recommend the use of "commercially manufactured prefilled flush syringes (when available) to reduce the risk of catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) and device failure, save time for syringe preparation, and aid optimal flushing technique and objectives."2
A comprehensive prefilled flush syringe portfolio
Featuring a selection of saline prefilled products in sterile path and externally sterile packaged syringe formats, the PosiFlush™ Syringe portfolio provides flushing solutions to help meet the needs of clinicians and patients.
PosiFlush™ SP Syringe
PosiFlush™ SP Syringes have a sterile path and are intended to be used for the flushing of indwelling vascular access devices to help support maintaining patency as part of medication delivery. They are designed for use outside of sterile areas only.
PosiFlush™ XS Syringe
PosiFlush™ XS Syringes are intended to be used only for the flushing of indwelling vascular access to maintain patency and support medication delivery. They are terminally sterilised in their peel pouch, enabling them to be aseptically presented to a sterile field.
Our evidence-based assessments, with analytics and benchmarks, are the first phase of BD Vascular Access Management—and the first step on the path to help you reduce complications and improve patient care.
Not all prefilled flush syringes are created equal
Every time you flush a patient's line, you're injecting saline directly into their bloodstream. Quality defects and bacterial contamination in prefilled flush syringes have seriously harmed patients:1-3
Catheter-related infections4
Spinal meningitis4
Permanent brain damage4
11 deaths, including a 2-year old child*1-2
*Combined from two cases reported in the United States in 2007 and 2016-17.
With PosiFlush™ Syringes, you can flush with confidence
Safety matters
100% TOUCH-FREE
100% touch-free manufacturing5,6, ensuring the first person to touch the syringe is the clinician
MULTI-STEP INSPECTION
100% of PosiFlush™ Syringes are inspected using a rigorous, multi-step, end-to-end inspection process to meet the highest quality standards and safety for our customers and patients6
Experience matters
20+ YEARS
in the market as a partner, supporting the needs of patients globally7
18 BILLION+ SYRINGES
produced and sold through 20228
13,000+ CUSTOMERS
around the world use and trust PosiFlush™ Syringes9
Reliability matters
DELIVERED FOR OUR CUSTOMERS
when market changes necessitated additional support by increasing PosiFlush™ Syringe production more than 25% from 2020-202210
3-YEAR SHELF LIFE
enabling facilities to plan ahead and manage inventory
6 HEALTH ORGANISATIONS
flushing best practice guidelines met (INS, RNC, NICE, epic 3, INICC, ISMP)11-17
INS: Infusion Nurses Society, RCN: Royal College of Nursing, NICE: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, INICC: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium, ISMP: Institute for Safe Medication Practice
BD is meeting our customers' needs of responsive and timely delivery, supported by our manufacturing plant and distribution center, in Europe.
ISO-compliant quality management systems
with relevant standards for quality assurance and environmental best practices
Published clinical studies
PosiFlush™ Syringes are supported by 20+ clinical studies—more published clinical study support than any other product in the prefilled syringe category*
*Based on a Pubmed literature search of key saline flush competitors as of July 2023
At BD, we understand that the health of the planet is linked to the health of people, and reducing our impact on the environment supports our purpose of advancing the world of health™.
Below are just a few examples of our efforts to minimise the PosiFlush™ Syringe portfolio's impact on the planet.
Sustainable manufacturing
All PosiFlush™ Syringe manufacturing plants are ISO 14001 certified to ensure sustainable best practices in manufacturing.
CO2 emissions
We are optimising the PosiFlush™ Syringe supply chain and distribution strategy to reduce CO2 emissions.
Products
PosiFlush™ Syringes are available in various sizes to ensure the appropriate size is used, depending on the situation and patient needs. Using smaller (3mL /5mL) PosiFlush™ Syringes helps reduce disposal waste.
Manufacturing
Our BD Fraga manufacturing plant is using 100% of renewable electricity, which reduced by 14 000 tones of CO2 emissions in 2021. *
*Resource Advisor. Becton Dickinson and Company emissions detail report. 11 Apr 2022.
Jewett C, Nguyen D. Timeline: How Contaminated Syringes Got From Factory to Patients. ProPupblica. June 6, 2009. Accessed Apr 17, 2025 at https://www.propublica.org/article/timeline-am2pat
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Cardinal Health Issues Nationwide Recall of Select Monoject™ Flush Prefilled Saline Syringes", 19Aug21. Accessed Apr 17, 2025 at www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cardinal-health-issues-nationwide-recall-select-monojecttm-flush-prefilled-saline-syringes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multistate Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bloodstream Infections Associated with Contaminated Prefilled Saline Flush Syringes. 2017. Accessed Apr 17, 2025 at https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/b-cepacia-saline-flush/index.html&CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/b-cepacia-saline-flush/index.html
Massoomi F, Arruda J. A Closer Look at Prefilled Flush Syringe Safety. Pharmacy Practice News. February 15, 2018. Accessed on May 19, 2023, at https://www.pharmacypracticenews.com/Clinical/Article/02-18/A-Closer-Look-at-Prefilled-Flush-Syringe-Safety/46801?sub=C63733F385E1FD4090EBC251E2F1174E9B162D4541C3E518622EA66D7AFC67F&enl=true%3Fses%3Dogst
Brown K, Graf LM, Guyader MJ, et al. Technical Report No. 48 Moist Heat Sterilizer Systems: Design, Commissioning, Operation, Qualification and Maintenance. Bethesda, Maryland, United States: Parenteral Drug Association; 2010.
BD Data on File. MEMO BD® Posiflush™ Manufacturing Process. March 5, 2021.
BD Data on File. Posiflush™ SP syringes [Design Dossier 10000290647 Rev Y]. August 16, 2022.
BD Data on File. Memo on Vertical Integration Manufacturing Process. December 21, 2022.
BD Data on File. BD Memo Attesting to 13,000 Unique PosiFlush™ Customers. DocuSign Envelope ID: F121466B-3532-4ED2-A6B2-8593E169FD2F. July 10, 2023.
BD Data on File. Production Summary MEMO. June 28, 2023.
Nickel B, Gorski L, Kleidon T, et al. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, 9th Edition. J Infus Nurs. 2024;47(1S Suppl 1):S1-S285. doi:10.1097/NAN.0000000000000532.
Denton A, Bodenham A, Conquest A, et al. Royal College of Nursing. Standards for Infusion Therapy, 4th Edition. https://www.rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-college-of-nursing/documents/publications/obselete/005704.pdf?la=en. Published December 12, 2016. Accessed June 2, 2021.
Loveday HP, Wilson JA, Pratt RJ, et al. epic3: national evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals in England. J Hosp Infect. 2014;86 Suppl 1:S1-S70. doi:10.1016/S0195-6701(13)60012-2
International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) – 2017, International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Care Bundles to Prevent Central and Peripheral Line-Related Bloodstream Infections
National Patient Safety Agency. NPSA Alert - Promoting safer use of injectable medicines (NPSA 20). Published March 28, 2007. Updated August 22, 2018. Accessed October 4, 2019 at https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/npsa-alert-promoting-safer-use-ofinjectionmedicinesnpsa-20-2007/
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices. ISMP Safe Practice Guidelines for Adult IV Push Medications. ISMP. Published July 14, 2015. Accessed October 20, 2020 at http://www.ismp.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2017-11/ISMP97-Guidelines-071415-3.%20FINAL.pdf.
The Joint Commission. National Patient Safety Goals Effective July 2020 for the Hospital Program. The Joint Commission. Accessed October 20, 2020 at http://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/standards/national-patientsafetygoals/2020/npsg_chapter_hap_jul2020.pdf. Published March 26, 2020.
Data on file. Pubmed literature search of key saline flush competitors as of July 2023.
Flushing is the act of moving fluids, medications, blood and blood products out of the vascular access device into the bloodstream. Locking is the instillation of a solution into a vascular access device.1
Flushing is a critical part of catheter care and maintenance and medication delivery. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice guidelines published by Infusion Nurses Society (INS) recommend flushing before and after medication delivery.1
Why are flushing and locking important?
INS 2024 Guidelines recommend using a single-use, commercially prepared, prefilled syringe of appropriate solution to flush and lock vascular access devices.1
BD's collection of literature on industry and on our offerings gives you information you can use to continue striving for excellence.
BD offers training resources to help improve your clinical practices as part of our goal of advancing the world of health.
