Most things are individually packed and labeled (ie, syringes, needles, IV tubing, scalpels, etc.), but I'm sure they come from a wholesale supply chain. Each product type has at least a couple of manufacturers. Some do better job than others in terms of including metric.
Remek On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 7:54 PM, John M. Steele <jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net>wrote: > Are those items sold to hospitals, etc (and would be considered wholesale, > not retail). I looked at bandages, gauze pads, tape, wound ointment > (Neosporin) that I bought at drugstores and have around the house. > Everything is dual labelled, dimensions on the bandages, weight on the > Neosporin. > > ------------------------------ > *From:* "rek...@gmail.com" <rek...@gmail.com> > > *To:* U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> > *Sent:* Fri, April 5, 2013 5:12:26 PM > *Subject:* [USMA:52604] Re: [USMA:52602] FPLA question > > I honestly don't think FPLA applies. Medical supply and equipment > manufacturers label how they please. Disposeables such as bandage, gauze, > or needles are USC exclusively, with metric mostly absent. Syringes - the > minims are gone, but larger sizes of 15 mL and above are also fl oz > dual-labeled. IV tubing is again USC with cm as an afterthought, if at > all. IV fluids in liters. Surgical tools in any way reminiscent of > nonmedical tools are sized in inches. Others in mm. > > Over the past few years in medicine I got the impression that standards > are applied in a piecemeal fashion, and every niche has its own set of > units. In the US, they are based on 19th century physiology (mm Hg or cm > H2O for pressures, concentrations in g/dL, etc) or on the principle of "who > got there first." If Americans invented it or dominated, USC units > invariably make their way in. Overall, medicine is metric only where it > absolutely must. Otherwise it falls back to the medieval units. > > Remek > > > ----- Reply message ----- > From: "Team Metric Info" <i...@metricrules.org> > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> > Subject: [USMA:52602] FPLA question > Date: Fri, Apr 5, 2013 14:49 > > > *Does anyone know how drug and medical devices became exempt from FPLA- > they are metric-only correct? Did the FDA just give them a waiver or did > someone seek congressional approval/ amendment*? > > - *Basic Requirements:* The FPLA requires each package of household > "consumer commodities" that is included in the coverage of the FPLA to bear > a label on which there is: > - a statement identifying the commodity, e.g., detergent, sponges, > etc.; > - the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or > distributor; > - and the net quantity of contents in terms of weight, measure, or > numerical count (measurement must be in both metric and inch/pound > units). > - *Purpose of the Act:* The FPLA is designed to facilitate value > comparisons and to prevent unfair or deceptive packaging and labeling of > many household "consumer commodities." > - FDA: <http://www.fda.gov/> The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) > administers the FPLA with respect to foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical > devices. The FTC administers the FPLA with respect to other "consumer > commodities" that are consumed or expended in the household. > > > > >
