Last updated: April 24, 2026
What products does “Sodium Chloride 5% in plastic container” usually map to?
“Sodium chloride 5%” is typically supplied as 5% w/v sodium chloride intravenous (IV) solution. In practice, suppliers sell it as one of the following formats, packed in plastic containers:
- IV infusion bag (common in pharmacy distribution)
- IV bottle (less common than bags in many markets)
- Flexible plastic container (commonly via VIAFLEX-style, polypropylene-based or multi-layer films, depending on the manufacturer)
Packaging in the market is usually described as “plastic container,” with unit sizes commonly including 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, and 1,000 mL.
Which global manufacturers supply 5% sodium chloride IV in plastic containers?
Below are widely used global suppliers/manufacturers that produce 5% sodium chloride IV solutions in flexible plastic containers/bags and distribute through hospital, wholesaler, and tender channels.
| Manufacturer / Brand owner |
Product type (typical) |
Common pack presentations (typical) |
Notes on supply channel |
| Baxter |
IV sodium chloride infusion solutions |
IV bags (multiple sizes) |
Large hospital distributor footprint in many regions |
| Fresenius Kabi |
IV electrolyte and saline solutions |
IV bags (multiple sizes) |
Regular listing in institutional procurement |
| B. Braun |
IV solutions including sodium chloride |
IV bags and/or bottles |
Strong tender coverage across many countries |
| Hospira (Pfizer) |
Legacy and contracted production via pharma supply networks |
IV bag/bottle formats depending on market |
Availability varies by country due to manufacturing shifts |
| Otsuka |
IV saline solutions (where locally licensed) |
Bag formats vary by market |
Region-specific availability |
| ICU Medical (acquired products vary) |
IV solutions through distribution partnerships |
Bag formats vary |
Supply depends on local licensing and tenders |
| Nipro |
IV solutions including saline |
Bag formats vary |
Often present via regional wholesalers |
| Hikma |
Injectable solutions (where licensed) |
Bag formats vary |
Region and listing dependent |
Who supplies into hospital procurement via distributors?
In most countries, “Sodium Chloride 5% in plastic container” is sourced through tendered distributors or direct hospital supply programs. Distributor lists change frequently, but the suppliers below are common channels in many markets:
- McKesson
- Cardinal Health
- AmerisourceBergen
- Sysco (medical sector where present)
- Local hospital drug distributors (tender-led procurement)
These distributors typically carry multiple competing brands and can fulfill by:
- formulation equivalence (5% w/v saline)
- container equivalence (plastic bag and/or flexible container)
- pack size equivalence
- regulatory equivalence (same concentration and route, per local license)
What do buyers check in supplier submissions (to prevent mismatch)?
Procurement submissions for “Sodium Chloride 5% in plastic container” typically require these fields to match the tender specification:
| Spec element |
Buyer check |
| Concentration |
Must be 5% w/v sodium chloride |
| Route |
Intravenous (IV) infusion |
| Container |
Plastic container (typically flexible bag; material system depends on manufacturer) |
| Pack size |
Unit size required by the hospital standard (commonly 100 mL to 1,000 mL) |
| Sterility and manufacturing |
Sterile, aseptic manufacturing and batch release per local rules |
| Label language and registration |
Local registration and label compliance (country-specific) |
| Shelf-life and storage |
Storage conditions (often “store below X” or “room temperature,” market-specific) and expiry window |
Supplier selection risk: how to avoid substitution issues
Common substitution issues in procurement are not about the active ingredient (sodium chloride) but about:
- container type (rigid vs flexible; different extractables/leachables profiles by material system)
- pack volume (100 mL vs 500 mL vs 1,000 mL)
- regulatory dossier differences (local license vs parallel import)
- labeling (tariff codes and pack format codes vary)
- delivery lead time (especially for tenders tied to hospital formularies)
Country-level supplier lists
Supplier availability varies materially by jurisdiction due to:
- local marketing authorizations
- manufacturing plant locations
- distribution contracts
- tender qualification rules
If a buyer runs a multi-supplier tender, the short list typically includes the global manufacturers and then the local distributor finalists with equivalent pack sizes and container formats.
Key Takeaways
- “Sodium chloride 5% in plastic container” maps to 5% w/v IV saline supplied primarily as flexible plastic infusion bags.
- The most reliable supplier set across markets usually includes Baxter, Fresenius Kabi, and B. Braun, with additional region-specific availability from Nipro, Hikma, and others.
- Procurement success depends on matching concentration, IV route, container type, and pack size, not just the ingredient.
FAQs
-
Is “sodium chloride 5%” the same as “5% saline” for IV use?
Yes. It denotes 5% w/v sodium chloride for IV infusion.
-
Does “plastic container” mean a flexible infusion bag?
In most procurement contexts, it means a plastic infusion bag or flexible plastic container, but the exact container type should match the tender spec.
-
What pack sizes are most commonly stocked for 5% sodium chloride IV?
Markets commonly stock 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, and 1,000 mL, depending on hospital protocols.
-
Are the main suppliers the same worldwide?
The top global manufacturers tend to be consistent, but local licensing and distributor contracts drive actual availability.
-
What causes the most substitutions at delivery?
The most frequent mismatches are pack size, container format, and regulatory product listing, even when the concentration is identical.
References
[1] FDA. “Sodium Chloride Injection, USP.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeling and drug product information.
[2] European Medicines Agency (EMA). “Sodium chloride” authorized medicinal products and EPAR/summary-of-product-characteristics records.
[3] Baxter. Product information for IV sodium chloride infusion solutions (market-specific listings).
[4] Fresenius Kabi. Product information for IV sodium chloride infusion solutions (market-specific listings).
[5] B. Braun. Product information for IV sodium chloride infusion solutions (market-specific listings).
