Last updated: April 25, 2026
What exact product is being referenced?
The label text “Dextrose 5% and Potassium Chloride 0.3% in plastic container” is an IV admixture product commonly marketed as an infusion solution containing:
- Dextrose (D5W) 5%
- Potassium chloride 0.3%
- Packaged in a plastic container (typical is flexible plastic, e.g., Viaflex/PL 204-style bags).
This description is used across multiple national formularies and generics, but the supplier depends on the country market, concentration salt form/labeling, and container type (bag vs vial).
Because you asked for “suppliers” without specifying a market, the only complete, provable approach is to list the manufacturers that sell this exact strength combination on regulated channels.
Which companies supply this combination in approved IV products?
The most consistently documented suppliers for the combination dextrose 5% + potassium chloride 0.3% in plastic containers are:
Manufacturers (product-level suppliers)
| Supplier / Manufacturer |
Product positioning in the IV market |
Typical packaging form |
| B. Braun |
IV infusion solutions and potassium-containing dextrose admixtures/solutions |
Flexible plastic bags |
| Fresenius Kabi |
IV fluids and electrolyte solutions |
Flexible plastic bags |
| Baxter |
IV infusion portfolio including dextrose and electrolyte solutions |
Flexible plastic containers |
| Hospira (Pfizer legacy brand footprint) |
Legacy IV brands and injectable solutions in relevant markets |
Plastic containers (market-dependent) |
These firms are the dominant suppliers for D5W-style electrolyte infusions globally and are repeatedly present across IV fluid procurement catalogs and regulatory inventories for the same strength pairing.
What supplier landscape does the procurement chain typically show?
In hospital procurement, you usually see:
- Manufacturer (brand owner): B. Braun, Baxter, Fresenius Kabi (primary)
- Wholesalers / GPO distributors: market access varies by region (AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson are common distributors in the US, but they are not “manufacturers”)
- Tender private-labeling: some regional SKUs are relabeled under hospital systems or distributors while manufactured under contract.
How to identify the correct supplier SKU
To avoid mismatch (same ingredients but different strengths or container type), the supplier SKU should match:
- Active ingredients and strengths:
- Dextrose 5%
- Potassium chloride 0.3%
- Dosage form: IV infusion solution
- Container: plastic container (not glass, not vial-only packaging)
- Regulatory labeling language:
- “dextrose” plus “potassium chloride”
- “in plastic container” or equivalent phrasing on the carton or IFU
What supplier selection criteria matter for this specific IV solution?
Procurement and R&D teams typically screen by:
- Regulatory approvals in the target country (marketing authorization holder)
- Container type and material compatibility (flexible plastic film; leachables control is container-specific)
- Supply continuity (global IV manufacturing footprint)
- Labeling alignment (potassium salt concentration exactly “0.3% KCl” and dextrose “5%”)
Key Takeaways
- The product description “Dextrose 5% and Potassium Chloride 0.3% in plastic container” maps to a specific IV infusion strength combination.
- In regulated IV supply chains, the most reliable supplier set for this strength pairing is concentrated among major IV-fluid manufacturers, led by B. Braun, Baxter, and Fresenius Kabi (and sometimes Pfizer/Hospira legacy footprints depending on market).
- Supplier selection should be based on product-label strength confirmation and plastic container packaging, not on ingredient name similarity alone.
FAQs
1) Are distributors the same as suppliers for this IV solution?
No. Distributors (wholesalers) move product; the supplier/manufacturer is the company marketing and producing the authorized strength in the specific container.
2) Can the same combination exist with different potassium labeling?
Yes. Potassium concentration can differ by formulation (e.g., different % strengths, different salt forms). The SKU must state potassium chloride 0.3% and dextrose 5%.
3) Does container type change supplier availability?
Yes. “Plastic container” can mean different flexible bag lines by brand. A manufacturer may supply the actives in plastic but not in the exact container format requested.
4) Are these products typically produced domestically or imported?
It varies by market tender and regulatory authorization. Major suppliers have multi-region manufacturing, but procurement rules often require local authorization.
5) What is the fastest way to confirm supplier identity for purchasing?
Match the exact strength and “plastic container” wording on the product label/carton tied to the marketing authorization holder in the destination country formulary.
References
[1] FDA. “Drug Products (Orange Book)” search tool. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/
[2] EMA. European public assessment reports and product information. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines
[3] Baxter. US and international product portfolio pages for IV solutions and electrolytes. https://www.baxter.com/
[4] B. Braun. Product listings for IV solutions and electrolytes. https://www.bbraun.com/
[5] Fresenius Kabi. Product listings for IV fluids and electrolytes. https://www.fresenius-kabi.com/
