Lower riskMedical device recall · FDA · Published November 21, 2022
Becton Dickinson BBL Chocolate II Agar Recall: False Negative Risk for Haemophilus
Becton Dickinson recalls BBL Chocolate II Agar (Catalog 221267) due to reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide causing false negatives in Haemophilus tests. Affected boxes 0002-0097 with specific expiration dates.
Boxes contain a reduced concentration of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and does not provide enough of the blood factors necessary to support Haemophilus growth. The reduction could cause a false negative result for Haemophilus isolation in a clinical specimen.
Becton Dickinson is recalling BBL Chocolate II Agar for lab use because some boxes have too little Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, which can cause false negative results when testing Haemophilus bacteria. This means the test might incorrectly show no bacteria when bacteria is actually present, potentially leading to missed diagnoses. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/59303-becton-dickinson-bbl-chocolate-ii-agar-recall-false-negative-risk.
“Becton Dickinson BBL Chocolate II Agar Recall: False Negative Risk for Haemophilus.” GovInfoNow, updated August 19, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/59303-becton-dickinson-bbl-chocolate-ii-agar-recall-false-negative-risk. Based on FDA recall #Z-0473-2023 (https://api.fda.gov/device/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22Z-0473-2023%22&limit=1).
The FDA announced on November 21, 2022, that Becton Dickinson & Co. is recalling BBL Chocolate II Agar- IVD due to a hazard that could cause false negative results for Haemophilus isolation. This voluntary Class II recall affects products distributed worldwide.
How to tell if you have it
Brand: Becton Dickinson
Product: BBL Chocolate II Agar- IVD
Catalog (Ref) Number: 221267
Lot Number: 2206461
Expiration Date: 20221125
Box numbers: 0002 through 0097
Plate timestamps: 11:34 through 13:51
The hazard
The recalled boxes contain a reduced concentration of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and do not provide enough blood factors necessary to support Haemophilus growth. This reduction could cause a false negative result for Haemophilus isolation in a clinical specimen.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Becton Dickinson & Co. has 43 other recalls on record since June 1, 2017. Other recent recalls of similar products include Remel GC Agar Base Recall (June 3, 2026), Meridian Bioscience Revogene C. difficile Test Recall (December 5, 2025), and Remel Neisseria meningitidis Gp C 2ml/VL recall (July 17, 2026).
How to tell if you have this one
Check the box number on the carton label. Affected boxes are numbered 0002 through 0097 with expiration date 20221125. Timestamps on the plate (11:34 to 13:51) correlate to these boxes.
Brand
Becton Dickinson
Category
Medical device
Based on the official FDA remedy
What to do — step by step
Check Box Number
Look for box numbers 0002 through 0097 on the carton label to identify affected units.
Where it went and when
Where it was distributed
Distributed nationwide, and outside the U.S.
Nationwide
Not listed
FDA distribution: “Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide and the countries of Canada, India, Philippines.” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.
Distributed nationwide, and outside the U.S.
Recall timeline
FDA published this recall 30 days after the firm started it.
1Firm started the recall
2FDA classified it Class II
3Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official FDA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
Official source: FDA Recall #Z-0473-2023 (November 21, 2022) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for Z-0473-2023 to see it in context.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 19, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the FDA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official FDA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.