So, I decided to do what any smart kid in a candy store would do…sample a little bit of everything…

In a nutshell, the FDA has found the contaminated drug Heparin, a blood thinner, in 11 countries including, Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States. Investigators have also established a definite link between the contaminant and the severe reactions that have caused 81 deaths in the Unites States.

Heparin is made from the mucous membranes of the intestines of pigs and the process of rendering the ingredients takes place in Chinese family workshops which are for the most part, unregulated. The contaminant, oversulfated chondroitin sulfate is a cheaper substitute that was able to slip through the usual testing and was not identified until more sophisticated tests were utilized.

There has been speculation that the concentrated number of deaths in the US may be attributed to the practice of American doctors to use large, quickly infused doses of heparin. Additionally, the FDA may be better than its foreign counterparts at tracking serious side effects.

The FDA had reports as early as 2006 that some lots of heparin contained the cheaper additive, which begs the question…why did Baxter International wait until February 2008 to issue a recall?