Chinese health authorities have recalled and sealed more than half of a batch of defective intravenous needles after one snapped and became embedded in a baby's scalp.

Food and drug supervision administrations in Shanghai and Guangdong have recalled 47,700 disposable needles out of a batch of 90,000 in 15 boxes.

A file photo of the disposable intravenous needles made by the Shanghai-based Damei Medicinal Plastic Factory.

One box containing 6,000 needles was on sale in Shanghai, but none had been used before the recall.

However, 42,300 of the 14 boxes of 84,000 needles circulated in Guangdong had been used.

China's Health Ministry on Friday ordered all medical institutions to stop using and recall the needles made on April 21 this year by the Shanghai-based Damei Medicinal Plastic Factory.

The order came after a maternity and child care center in the southern province of Guangdong reported the snapped needle on October 17.

No further information on the infant or new needle break incidents has been reported.

Sample tests conducted by the care center on six needles from the same batch found all broke easily.

"It is highly likely to be a serious case of products of low quality," the State Food and Drug Administration said on its website.

The SFDA has ordered the manufacturer to stop production of the needles.

SFDA officials are investigating the company.

(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2008)