Lower riskMedical device recall · FDA · Published March 17, 2021
BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar Recall: Heavy C. albicans Growth Risks Neisseria
Becton Dickinson recalls BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar due to heavy C. albicans growth after 24 hours, risking delayed Neisseria diagnosis. Affected lots: 0317559 (exp 2021-03-11) and 0345695 (exp 2021-04-06).
Products show heavy growth of C. albicans after 24 hours of incubation due to misformulation (expected reaction is partial inhibition after 18-48 hours incubation) and reduce the identification of Neisseria contributing to a delay in time to definitive diagnosis or a delay in proper treatment
Becton Dickinson is recalling BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar because it grows too much C. albicans after 24 hours of incubation, which can delay proper Neisseria diagnosis and treatment. This affects lab use for isolating pathogenic Neisseria from specimens. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/63045-bd-bbl-martin-lewis-agar-recall-heavy-c-albicans-growth.
“BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar Recall: Heavy C. albicans Growth Risks Neisseria.” GovInfoNow, updated August 19, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/63045-bd-bbl-martin-lewis-agar-recall-heavy-c-albicans-growth. Based on FDA recall #Z-1377-2021 (https://api.fda.gov/device/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22Z-1377-2021%22&limit=1).
The FDA announced on March 17, 2021, that Becton Dickinson & Co. is recalling BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar due to misformulation that may delay diagnosis of pathogenic Neisseria. The agency said the products show heavy growth of C. albicans after 24 hours of incubation.
How to tell if you have it
Brand: Becton Dickinson
Product: BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar, 100 Ea
UPC: 30382902215586
Catalog Number: 221558
Lot Numbers: 0317559 (Exp. Date 2021-MAR-11), 0345695 (Exp. Date 2021-APR-06)
Distribution: US Nationwide, Canada, Korea
The hazard
The FDA said the misformulation causes heavy growth of C. albicans after 24 hours of incubation, whereas partial inhibition is expected after 18-48 hours. This reduces the identification of Neisseria, contributing to a delay in definitive diagnosis or proper treatment.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Becton Dickinson & Co. has 43 other recalls on record since June 1, 2017. Recent brand recalls include the BD GasP: CO2 Pouch System Recall (April 7, 2026) and the BD Kiestra Isolate Suspension Cuvette Array recall (Oct. 23, 2025). Other recent recalls of similar products include the Remel GC Agar Base Recall (June 3, 2026) and the Remel Neisseria meningitidis Gp C 2ml/VL recall (July 17, 2026).
How to tell if you have this one
Check for lot numbers 0317559 (expires March 11, 2021) or 0345695 (expires April 6, 2021) on the packaging. The product is used for isolating pathogenic Neisseria from mixed bacterial and fungal specimens.
Brand
Becton Dickinson
Product
BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar, 100 Ea
Category
Medical device
FDA recall event · 2 products
All 2 products in this recall
FDA lists each product line separately under one recall event. Check your product description, lot or code numbers against each row. Every row shares the hazard and remedy on this page.
Classification
Class II
Status
Terminated
Distribution
Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide distribution and the countries of Canada, Korea.
Recall number
Product, codes & lots
Quantity
Z-1377-2021
BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar, 100 Ea - Product Usage: used for the isolation of pathogenic Neisseria from specimens containing mixed flora of bacteria and fungi. Catalog Number: 221558; Lot Numbers: 0317559 Exp. Date 2021-MAR-11; 0345695 Exp. Date 2021-APR-06 UDI: 01)30382902215586 (10)0317559(17)031121 (30)0100 (01)30382902215586 (10)0345695(17)040621 (30)0100
15550 EA
Z-1378-2021
BD BBL Martin-Lewis Agar 20 Ea - Product Usage: use for the isolation of pathogenic Neisseria from specimens containing mixed flora of bacteria and fungi. Catalog Number: 221557; Lot Number: 0317558, Exp. Date 2021-MAR-11 UDI: (01)30382902215579 (10)0317558(17)031121 (30)0020
33660 EA
Based on the official FDA remedy
What to do — step by step
Check Product Lot Number
Look for lot numbers 0317559 or 0345695 on the packaging.
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 distribution and the countries of Canada, Korea.” 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 terminated this recall 17 months after the firm started it.
1Firm started the recall
2FDA classified it Class II
3Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
4FDA terminated the recall
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-1377-2021 (March 17, 2021) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for Z-1377-2021 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.