Leaching of chemicals from plastic intravenous fluid bags.

Abstract

To the Editor.— We have previously reported 1 that Vitamin A could disappear rapidly from the solutions stored in the polyvinyl chloride plastic intravenous fluid bags that are marketed under the trade name, Viaflex, by Baxter-Travenol. In light of a recent study 2 showing that a rather significant amount of the plasticizer, diethylhexyl phthalate (DEH-phthalate), leached at a constant rate into the blood from the plastic blood bags also marketed by the same company, we have conducted some preliminary investigations as to the possible leaching of chemicals from the Viaflex fluid bags. In this preliminary phase of the study, the ultraviolet absorption spectra of solutions (200 ml) stored in 250-ml bags were recorded as a function of time. The samples were kept at room temperature (24 ± 2 C), and the solutions stored in volumetric flasks served as controls. The ultraviolet absorbencies of distilled water, normal saline, and 5% dextrose solution