Contains human blood or plasma derivatives
The standard’s wording, as the sources below reproduce it:
“Indicates a medical device that contains or incorporates human blood or plasma derivatives.”
ISO 15223-1:2021, 5.4.6 · ISO 7000-3701
What it means for you
Part of the device is made with a substance derived from human blood or plasma, such as albumin or a clotting factor coating. EU rules (MDR Annex I 23.2) require this to be shown; people who do not accept blood products for religious or personal reasons look for it.
Whether a device is right for you is a question for your pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
- What it looks like
- The rounded, point-down triangle of the LATEX mark with a single drop inside.
- Where you see it
- Some surgical sealants and haemostats, coated grafts and catheters, and some wound products.
- Other names
- blood drop in a triangle; plasma derivatives; human albumin
What it does not tell you
It does not name the substance or how much there is; the instructions for use do. It is not an infection-risk warning.
More symbols in “A rounded triangle”
Sources
ISO 15223-1 is a paid standard, so the wording above is quoted as 3 publishers’ public documents reproduce it. Each was fetched and read on the date shown:
- Boston Scientific: Symbols Glossary — ISO 15223-1 5.4.6 “Contains human blood or plasma derivatives — Indicates a medical device that contains or incorporates human blood or plasma derivatives.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- NE Scientific: Master Symbol Glossary (CTF-100011 Rev 01) — Shows the drop in the rounded triangle for reference no. 5.4.6 (ISO 7000-3701). Checked 2026-09-28.
- MedTech Europe: Use of Symbols to Indicate Compliance with the MDR, version 3.0 (November 2021) — Lists “Contains human blood or plasma derivatives (3701)” under MDR Annex I 23.2(e). Checked 2026-09-28.
Plain-language parts are in our own words; quotations are the sources’ wording.