Victoria Mbangwa
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning about the dangers posed by substandard insulin syringes still in circulation in Nigeria.
The agency raised concerns that the continued use of the Knowit Insulin Syringe 40 IU 29G x 1/2—an outdated and unregistered product—could lead to life-threatening dosing errors for diabetic patients.
Despite the standardization of human insulin at 100 IU/ML, some healthcare providers and patients continue to use 40 IU/ML syringes, increasing the risk of incorrect dosage administration.
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria recently raised an alarm over this trend, prompting NAFDAC’s intervention.
According to NAFDAC, the 40 IU/ML syringes were originally designed for administering Lente animal insulins, which were available in both 40 IU/ML and 100 IU/ML concentrations.
However, with the shift to human insulins standardized at 100 IU/ML, the lower concentration syringes have become obsolete and pose a serious health hazard.
“The 40 IU/ML insulin syringe is no longer applicable and is no longer registered by NAFDAC. Its use could result in dosing errors, with serious adverse consequences for diabetic patients.
“Using a 40 IU/ML syringe to administer 100 IU/ML insulin exposes patients to a high risk of dosing errors, as the calculations required to adjust for this mismatch cannot be reliably performed by most patients.” The statement partly read.
To combat the illegal distribution of these syringes, NAFDAC has ordered nationwide surveillance, directing its zonal and state offices to remove the falsified product from circulation.
The agency has also urged importers, distributors, and retailers to halt the sale of the syringes, while advising healthcare professionals and caregivers to educate patients on the risks.
