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Baxter softens PVC stance

"For certain IV bags, we're looking to replace PVC. That would happen gradually, on a product-by-product basis because of the long period of time required for regulatory submission and approval," according to Deborah Spak, senior manager in communications for Baxter Intl.

"But for some bags, PVC may remain the material of choice." Spak says the Deerfield, IL-based company is "profoundly disappointed" by "gross misrepresentations" about Baxter's use of polyvinyl chloride, including some reports that the company was eliminating PVC packaging for health reasons. The company uses PVC for flexible packs containing intravenous and dialysis solutions, as well as for storing and collecting blood. However, a Baxter background paper uses fairly strong language: "Baxter is committed to exploring and developing alternatives to PVC products and to developing and implementing proposed timetables for substituting its current containers for intravenous solutions with a container that does not contain PVC." In an attempt to clarify, Spak states the shift to other materials "has absolutely nothing to do with safety."

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