Full Notification

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is taking immediate action in response to a national recall of vials that law enforcement agencies use to collect blood from suspected drunken drivers.

According to the manufacturer, BD, some vials are missing a necessary chemical that prevents blood from clotting inside the vial.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office uses BD vials to store blood samples taken from suspects arrested for DWI.

Deputies typically use a different kit to collect blood samples for more serious intoxication manslaughter cases, and these kits are not believed to be impacted by the recall at this time.

The Sheriff’s Office is actively working with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences to identify cases that may be impacted by the recall.

In the meantime, all vials included in the recall are being collected from deputies and replaced with vials that are confirmed to be in good working order.