Last updated: April 26, 2026
What suppliers supply 3% sodium chloride in plastic containers?
The product class “Sodium Chloride 3% in plastic container” is typically procured under hospital/IV product supply lines that sell 3% hypertonic saline as an IV solution packaged in plastic (non-glass) containers. Suppliers generally fall into two groups: (1) manufacturer of record for the specific NDC/strength/package, and (2) authorized distributors that carry the item for contracting, wholesaling, and hospital direct fulfillment.
Supplier coverage below is restricted to firms that are consistently active in U.S. hospital distribution of IV sodium chloride solutions and/or hypertonic saline (3%) product lines.
Which distribution channels reliably carry this drug?
Procurement buyers typically source through national wholesalers plus specialty group purchasing networks:
| Supply channel type |
What it buys for customers |
Firms commonly involved |
| National pharmaceutical wholesalers |
Broad institutional catalog, contract pricing, same-day/next-day distribution |
McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen (AmerisourceBergen is part of McKesson for some segments; naming depends on operating entity) |
| Hospital group purchasing organizations (GPOs) |
Formulary alignment and rebate-based pricing |
Vizient, Premier, GHX-connected contract networks |
| Direct-to-provider distributor programs |
Specialty procurement and logistics |
Large regional distributors operating under above wholesaler pipelines (varies by market) |
Who are the most likely manufacturer-of-record suppliers for hypertonic saline 3%?
Manufacturer-of-record changes by NDC, container type, and whether the product is pharmacy bulk packaged, premixed, or ready-to-infuse. For “plastic container” packaging, common manufacturing footprints for sterile IV solutions include major sterile injectables players and regional sterile manufacturers supplying U.S. hospitals.
High-probability manufacturer-of-record targets for 3% hypertonic saline in plastic containers include the following sterile IV solution suppliers that distribute into U.S. wholesaler and hospital channels:
- Baxter (sterile IV solutions portfolio; hospital channel coverage)
- Fresenius Kabi (U.S. IV sterile product lines)
- Hospira/Pfizer sterile injectables ecosystem (legacy and successor product lines)
- B. Braun (sterile IV solutions and hospital distribution)
Which FDA listing and labeling sources should be treated as “source of truth” for the exact plastic-container product?
For a precise supplier identification (NDC-level), procurement teams typically tie the product to its FDA listing and label:
- FDA Orange Book for approved drug product entries tied to the active ingredient/strength (3% sodium chloride solution) and specific label/Biopharm classification.
- FDA Drug Label information (labeling for package/container description).
- DAWPI (Drug Approval and Databases) ecosystem sources and DailyMed for product labeling and container/packaging details.
These are the authoritative references used to map the exact container type (plastic) to the manufacturer-of-record and labeler.
What packaging spec typically governs “plastic container” for 3% sodium chloride?
In hospital procurement, “plastic container” usually refers to sterile IV solutions in polymer containers (not glass). The container spec can include:
- Container material: common IV solution polymer bags (e.g., non-PVC or PVC-free flexible plastic depending on product line)
- Volume: varies by institutional pack (commonly 100 mL to 250 mL for 3% hypertonic saline, but sizes vary by labeler)
- Closure: infusion port compatible with standard spike sets
- Sterility assurance: packaged sterile and intended for IV administration
Because procurement decisions depend on NDC and volume, supplier selection should be locked to the exact label entry.
Procurement-ready supplier list (actionable buying targets)
Use the following as a starting slate for RFP outreach and contract bidding for 3% sodium chloride hypertonic saline in plastic containers:
Wholesalers and distributors
- McKesson
- Cardinal Health
- AmerisourceBergen (McKesson and cardinal-style naming may vary by region)
GPO-aligned sourcing networks
- Vizient
- Premier
- GHX network-based contracting
Major sterile IV solution manufacturers likely to carry 3% hypertonic saline
- Baxter
- Fresenius Kabi
- Pfizer/Hospira legacy sterile portfolio
- B. Braun
How to validate supplier fit to the exact “plastic container” requirement
Procurement teams should validate the following item-level attributes before awarding supply:
- NDC match to the exact labeled product strength (3% sodium chloride solution).
- Label container description explicitly states plastic/solution container type in labeling.
- Packaging format matches hospital standard (ready-to-infuse bag volume and port type).
- Storage and handling match institutional protocols for hypertonic saline IV solutions (temperature, light protection if specified).
Key constraints that affect supplier availability
Supplier availability for this exact product class changes with:
- NDC labeler changes (repackaging, lifecycle changes, or packaging format shifts).
- Container platform transitions (plastic bag material changes).
- Backorder or supply interruptions in sterile IV manufacturing capacity.
Key Takeaways
- “Sodium chloride 3% in plastic container” is procured through national wholesalers (McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen) and GPO networks (Vizient, Premier, GHX-connected contracts).
- The manufacturer-of-record for the exact plastic-container product should be validated at NDC/label level using FDA sources such as Orange Book and labeling databases.
- For RFP outreach, prioritize sterile IV solution manufacturers with strong U.S. hospital distribution footprint: Baxter, Fresenius Kabi, Pfizer/Hospira legacy portfolio, B. Braun.
FAQs
1) Is “Sodium Chloride 3% in plastic container” the same across all NDCs?
No. Strength is the same conceptually (3%), but container type, volume, and labeling vary by NDC. Supplier must be matched at the NDC and label level.
2) Do wholesalers determine whether the container is plastic?
Wholesalers list SKUs, but the manufacturer label/NDC defines packaging. Validation must be done from the product label tied to the NDC.
3) Which source is the fastest way to confirm the correct package and container description?
Use the FDA label/DailyMed entry for the NDC. It is the practical reference for container/package statements used in procurement.
4) How should a hospital structure a bid to reduce mismatch risk?
Require bidders to provide an NDC match plus container confirmation from labeling, not just product name.
5) What typically causes backorder on this product class?
Sterile IV manufacturing capacity swings and packaging-platform changes tied to NDC transitions, leading to temporary supply constraints for specific SKUs.
References
[1] FDA. Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm
[2] FDA. Drugs@FDA: FDA Approved Drug Products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/
[3] U.S. National Library of Medicine. DailyMed. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/
[4] McKesson. Company and pharmaceutical distribution information. https://www.mckesson.com/
[5] Cardinal Health. Pharmaceutical distribution information. https://www.cardinalhealth.com/
[6] AmerisourceBergen (McKesson corporate updates may consolidate naming by operating unit). Pharmaceutical distribution information. https://www.amerisourcebergen.com/
[7] Vizient. GPO and contracting information. https://www.vizientinc.com/
[8] Premier. GPO and contracting information. https://www.premierinc.com/
[9] GHX. Healthcare contracting and trading partner network information. https://www.ghx.com/
