Small differences can trigger major complications, lawyers warn after IV device alert
Medical negligence and product safety lawyers have warned small differences between medical devices can lead to serious complications, following urgent advice from the UK’s medicines regulator on intravenous (IV) infusions.
Posted on 02 June 2026
The alert follows a serious incident in which an IV giving set was mistakenly used during a baby’s blood transfusion, contributing to severe brain damage.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has raised concerns about the risk of serious harm if an IV giving set is used instead of the correct blood transfusion set.
The key difference is that blood transfusion sets include a larger filter designed for blood, while standard IV sets use much smaller filters intended for fluids and medication. Using the wrong set could reduce the amount of blood delivered or damage the components in blood such as red blood cells. This means that life-saving blood transfusions can be ineffective and increases the risk of serious harm.
The MHRA has urged healthcare professionals to ensure staff understand the difference between the two types of equipment, and that this information is shared with non-clinical staff who may handle the devices.
The regulator also warned that using the wrong set can slow or restrict the flow of blood, meaning patients may not receive the required amount in time.
It also noted that manufacturers do not use consistent colour coding to distinguish between the sets, making it even more important to check equipment carefully before use.
Leigh Day clinical negligence solicitor Camilla Browne said:
“This announcement raises serious patient safety concerns. Healthcare providers must ensure that adequate training, equipment labelling and robust systems are put in place to avoid such a tragic incident being repeated.”
Philippa Wheeler, a solicitor in Leigh Day’s product safety team added:
“This announcement shows how a small difference in a product can lead to serious consequences. It is concerning that there is no consistent colour coding to help distinguish between giving sets. While it is encouraging that the MHRA is working with manufacturers, it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent this happening again.”
