Albumin (Human) Injection Shortage

• • Kedrion has Albuked available.
  • Octapharma has Albumin available.
  • CSL Behring has AlbuRx available and the company is shipping to distributors regularly.
  • Takeda has Flexbumin available. Takeda states the shortage was due to increased demand.
  • Grifols has Albutein available.

• • AlbuRx intravenous solution for injection, CSL Behring, Albumin (human) 25%, 12.5 grams protein/50 mL vial, NDC 44206-0251-05
  • AlbuRx intravenous solution for injection, CSL Behring, Albumin (human) 25%, 25 grams protein/100 mL vial, NDC 44206-0251-10
  • AlbuRx intravenous solution for injection, CSL Behring, Albumin (human) 5%, 12.5 grams protein/250 mL vial, NDC 44206-0310-25
  • AlbuRx intravenous solution for injection, CSL Behring, Albumin (human) 5%, 25 grams protein/500 mL vial, NDC 44206-0310-50
  • Albuked intravenous solution for injection, Kedrion Biopharma, Inc., Albumin (human) 25%, 12.5 grams protein/50 mL vial, NDC 76125-0792-25
  • Albuked intravenous solution for injection, Kedrion Biopharma, Inc., Albumin (human) 25%, 25 grams protein/100 mL vial, NDC 76125-0792-10
  • Albuked intravenous solution for injection, Kedrion Biopharma, Inc., Albumin (human) 5%, 12.5 grams protein/250 mL vial, NDC 76125-0790-25
  • Albumin intravenous solution for injection, Octapharma, Albumin (human) 25%, 12.5 grams protein/50 mL vial, NDC 67467-0643-01
  • Albumin intravenous solution for injection, Octapharma, Albumin (human) 25%, 25 grams protein/100 mL vial, NDC 67467-0643-02
  • Albumin intravenous solution for injection, Octapharma, Albumin (human) 5%, 12.5 grams protein/250 mL vial, NDC 67467-0623-02
  • Albumin intravenous solution for injection, Octapharma, Albumin (human) 5%, 25 grams protein/500 mL vial, NDC 67467-0623-03
  • Albutein intravenous solution for injection, Grifols, Albumin (human) 25%, 12.5 grams protein/50 mL vial, NDC 68516-5216-01
  • Albutein intravenous solution for injection, Grifols, Albumin (human) 25%, 25 grams protein/100 mL vial, NDC 68516-5216-02
  • Albutein intravenous solution for injection, Grifols, Albumin (human) 5%, 12.5 grams protein/250 mL vial, NDC 68516-5214-01
  • Albutein intravenous solution for injection, Grifols, Albumin (human) 5%, 25 grams protein/500 mL vial, NDC 68516-5214-02
  • Flexbumin intravenous solution for injection, Takeda, Albumin (human) 25%, 12.5 grams protein/50 mL vial, NDC 00944-0493-01
  • Flexbumin intravenous solution for injection, Takeda, Albumin (human) 25%, 25 grams protein/100 mL vial, NDC 00944-0493-02
  • Flexbumin intravenous solution for injection, Takeda, Albumin (human) 5%, 12.5 grams protein/250 mL vial, NDC 00944-0495-05

Implications for Patient Care

• • Albumin 5% solution is used for hypovolemic patients or intravascularly depleted patients.[1]
  • Albumin 25% solution is used for patients in whom fluid and sodium intake is restricted or to mobilize fluids.[1]

Alternative Agents & Management

• • Albumin 4% to 5% solution is recommended for therapeutic plasma exchange as the replacement fluid of choice. Other crystalloids are not recommended due to insufficient oncotic pressure and may result in edema or hypotension. If an albumin-saline combination is used for these patients, at least 50% of the total volume infused should be albumin.[1-2]
  • For postoperative hypovolemia, the Society for Critical Care Medicine has a strong recommendation (with moderate-quality evidence) for the use of crystalloid solutions for initial management. There is a weak recommendation (with low-quality evidence) to use albumin 4% to 5% in addition to crystalloids in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.[3]
  • Compatibility data regarding using a Y-site with albumin 25% and fluids in order to mimic albumin 5% are not available.[4]
  • There are data for diluting albumin 25% with 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose to make albumin 5%.[5]

References

• 1. Lexi-Drugs Online. Hudson, OH. Lexi-Comp, Inc.; 2022. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed October 7, 2022.
  2. IBM Micromedex [database online]. Greenwood Village, CO: IBM Corporation.; 2022. http://www.micromedexsolutions.com. Accessed October 7, 2022.
  3. Dynamed. Postoperative Fluid Therapy in Adults. EBSCO Information Services. Accessed October 7, 2022.
  4. Trissel's IV Compatibility [database online]. Hudson, OH. Lexi-Comp, Inc.; 2022. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed October 7, 2022.
  5. Albutein 25% prescribing information. Los Angeles, CA: Grifols Biologicals LLC., April 2022.