When a multidose vial is opened and a dose is withdrawn, how long can that vial be retained for use?
Certain vaccines are distributed in multidose vials. When opened, the remaining doses from partially used multidose vials can be administered until the expiration date printed on the vial or vaccine packaging, provided that the vial has been stored correctly and that the vaccine is not visibly contaminated unless otherwise indicated in the manufacturer’s package insert. Some multidose vaccine vials contain lyophilized (freeze-dried) vaccine. Once reconstituted, the life of each vaccine varies from product to product and the new expiration date and time most likely will differ from that printed on the vial of lyophilized vaccine. Consult the package insert for the most up-to-date information about expiration dates and times following reconstitution. Unused reconstituted vaccines kept beyond these limits should not be administered. Our state supplies us with 2 mL vials of Immune Globulin (Human) USP. Often we only use parts of the vial. I read in the package insert that because the Immun
