1.   Centeon recalled the plasma products Albuminar and Plasma Plex, which are used for treating shock, trauma and burns after some vials cracked in transport.

2.   Meanwhile, officials at the FDA, facing criticism over their handling of Centeon, announced that they would step up inspections of manufacturers of plasma products.

3.   Soon afterward, federal officials discovered serious violations of manufacturing standards among makers of plasma products and demanded improvements that often slowed production.

4.   The events began with decisions to recall plasma products that carried a theoretical but unproven risk of transmitting a fatal, little-understood disease.

5.   The Department of Health urged private medical centres and private practitioners to return a batch of plasma products from the American drug company Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

6.   The plasma product was recalled on Thursday from five hospitals and one clinic, the Hospital Authority said in a statement.