BD

Corporate brand

BD is a United States-based multinational medical technology company supplying medical devices, diagnostic systems, laboratory products, and related healthcare services.

Last updated October 25, 2026

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Overview

BD, formally Becton, Dickinson and Company, is a multinational medical technology company whose products are used across hospitals, laboratories, physicians' offices, pharmacies, blood-collection settings, and other healthcare environments. The company makes medical devices, instrument systems, diagnostic products, laboratory reagents, and selected consulting and analytics services. Its portfolio addresses medication delivery, injection and infusion, specimen collection, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, flow cytometry, laboratory automation, surgical intervention, vascular access, and other clinical workflows. The company was established in New York City in 1897 by Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson. It subsequently moved its headquarters to New Jersey and developed from a supplier of medical and laboratory equipment into a diversified healthcare technology group. BD's long history has been shaped by the increasing industrialization of healthcare, the adoption of disposable medical products, the need to reduce needlestick injuries and medication errors, and the growing importance of diagnostic testing and laboratory data. BD operates through three principal business areas described in the reference material: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. BD Medical includes products for medication delivery, injection, infusion, vascular access, and related hospital workflows, as well as certain consulting and analytics services for healthcare systems. BD Life Sciences includes bioscience research tools, preanalytical sample-management products, microbiology and molecular diagnostics, laboratory automation, informatics, reagents, assays, and flow-cytometry and multiomics technologies. BD Interventional focuses on devices used in vascular, surgical, urological, and other minimally invasive procedures. Falcon laboratory tubes, a widely recognized BD product family, are especially prominent in research and testing environments. BD expanded substantially through acquisitions. Its 2014 agreement to acquire CareFusion strengthened its position in medication management, infusion, and hospital devices. In 2017, BD completed the acquisition of C. R. Bard, adding a large interventional and surgical portfolio and making Bard a wholly owned BD subsidiary. The company also acquired Velano Vascular and announced the purchase of Tepha in 2021. In 2024, BD announced an agreement to acquire Edwards Lifesciences' critical care business for approximately $4.2 billion, subject to the transaction's terms and completion conditions. BD separated its diabetes-care business into Embecta Corporation in 2022. Embecta became an independent public company focused on diabetes-care products, while BD entered into a long-term supply arrangement under which it would supply cannulas to Embecta through 2032. The separation narrowed BD's direct portfolio while preserving a commercial relationship between the two companies. The company has also faced product recalls, occupational-safety findings, litigation, and allegations concerning competition and product-risk disclosures. These matters reflect the regulatory and liability exposure associated with medical devices. Examples include recalls involving Discardit II syringes in Poland, Q-Syte and Nexiva intravenous products, and infusion sets affected by falsified sterilization documentation. BD and former subsidiary C. R. Bard have also faced litigation involving surgical meshes and other devices. Despite these controversies, BD remains a major global healthcare-technology brand, with its products integrated into routine clinical care, laboratory research, diagnostics, and hospital operations.

History

Becton, Dickinson and Company was founded in New York City in 1897 by Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson. The business eventually relocated its headquarters to New Jersey and grew alongside the modern healthcare system. Its development was driven by demand for reliable disposable medical products, safer injection equipment, clinical instruments, laboratory consumables, and diagnostic technologies. Over time, BD broadened beyond basic syringes and needles. It developed products for medication delivery, infusion, vascular access, specimen collection, laboratory testing, and research. Its laboratory activities came to include the Falcon family of tubes and other consumables, flow-cytometry systems, reagents, microbiology and molecular diagnostics, automation, and informatics. The company also developed consulting and analytics capabilities intended for hospitals and healthcare networks. BD's history includes repeated efforts to expand through acquisitions. In 2014, it agreed to acquire CareFusion for approximately $12.2 billion in cash and stock. The transaction strengthened BD's presence in hospital equipment, medication management, infusion, and related clinical systems. In 2017, BD acquired C. R. Bard, whose businesses added surgical, vascular, urological, and other interventional products. Bard became a wholly owned BD subsidiary and was subsequently incorporated into the group's branding and operating structure. The company separated its diabetes-care operation in 2022. BD announced the plan in 2021, and Embecta Corporation became an independent public company on April 1, 2022. The transaction created a standalone diabetes-care business while leaving BD with a continuing supply relationship for cannulas through 2032. BD also announced the acquisitions of Velano Vascular and Tepha in 2021, reflecting continued interest in vascular access and surgical biomaterials. BD has faced regulatory, product-safety, and litigation issues. In 2004, it agreed to pay approximately $100 million to resolve allegations brought by Retractable Technologies concerning competition in safety-syringe distribution. The dispute later involved additional allegations concerning patents and advertising. In 2007, BD withdrew specified Discardit II syringe lots in Poland after particulate contamination reports. In 2010, it announced a partial recall of Q-Syte and Nexiva intravenous products because certain defects could permit air entry or leakage. In 2021, it recalled infusion products after learning that a supplier had falsified sterilization records. The company's former C. R. Bard operations also became the subject of significant litigation. In 2020, BD and Bard were fined $60 million in connection with allegations that patients were not adequately informed about risks associated with transvaginal mesh devices. In 2024, BD agreed to settle approximately 38,000 United States hernia-mesh lawsuits. These matters illustrate the legal and reputational risks faced by manufacturers of implantable and other clinical devices. BD has also reported environmental and social-responsibility recognition. Reference material places the company on environmental rankings and sustainability indexes during the late 2000s and early 2010s, and identifies its needleless injection system as an example of innovation intended to create shared value by improving safety while addressing a healthcare need. Today, BD remains an international medical technology company organized around medical products, life-sciences and diagnostic technologies, and interventional care.

2024
Critical-care acquisition announced
[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
BD announced an agreement to acquire Edwards Lifesciences' critical care unit for approximately $4.2 billion.
2022
Embecta spinoff completed
[2]BD announces completion of Embecta Corp. spinoffinvestors.bd.com
Embecta Corporation became an independent public company on April 1, 2022.
2021
Embecta separation announced
[2]BD announces completion of Embecta Corp. spinoffinvestors.bd.com
BD announced that its diabetes-care business would be separated into an independent company.
2017
C. R. Bard acquisition completed
[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
BD completed its acquisition of C. R. Bard and added Bard's interventional and surgical businesses.
2014
CareFusion acquisition announced
[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
BD announced an approximately $12.2 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of CareFusion.
2004
Settlement with Retractable Technologies
[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
BD agreed to a payment of approximately $100 million to resolve allegations concerning anticompetitive conduct involving safety syringes.
1897
Company founded in New York City
[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson founded the company that became Becton, Dickinson and Company.

Products and positioning

A global medical technology and diagnostics provider focused on safer medication delivery, clinical procedures, laboratory testing, research workflows, and healthcare-system efficiency.

Medical devices
BD Medical
BD Medical covers products used in medication delivery, injection, infusion, vascular access, and related hospital workflows. Its portfolio includes syringes, needles, catheters, infusion products, and devices intended to improve the safety and reliability of clinical procedures. In selected markets, the business also provides consulting and analytics services to hospitals, healthcare systems, and provider networks.
Diagnostics and laboratory technology
BD Life Sciences
BD Life Sciences includes preanalytical sample-management products, bioscience research tools, flow-cytometry and immunology technologies, microbiology and molecular diagnostics, reagents, assays, laboratory automation, and informatics. The business serves clinical laboratories, research institutions, pharmaceutical organizations, and other users that need standardized sample processing and analytical results.
Interventional and surgical devices
BD Interventional
BD Interventional comprises devices used in minimally invasive and surgical procedures. Its scope includes vascular, urological, surgical, and other interventional applications, substantially reflecting the capabilities added through the acquisition of C. R. Bard. The products are intended for clinicians performing procedures that require access, delivery, drainage, repair, or other specialized intervention.
Laboratory consumables
BD Falcon tubes
Falcon tubes are BD's plastic laboratory tubes with conical, screw-top designs. They are widely used for sample handling, centrifugation, cell culture, and other laboratory tasks. The Falcon name is strongly associated with laboratory consumables and is sometimes used informally as a generic reference to this type of conical tube.

Controversies

2024
Hernia-mesh litigation settlement
BD agreed to settle approximately 38,000 United States lawsuits in which plaintiffs alleged injuries associated with BD hernia-mesh products.
Source
2020
Transvaginal-mesh risk-disclosure penalties
C. R. Bard and BD were fined $60 million in connection with allegations that patients were not adequately informed about health risks related to transvaginal mesh devices.
Source
2020
BD recalls sterile disposable injection needles in South Korea
Becton Dickinson Medical (S) Pte. Ltd. voluntarily recalled specified batches of sterile disposable injection needles following a customer complaint from South Korea. According to the complaint, some packaging may have been opened and incorrectly cut. The article states that the affected batch was not imported into China and that the recall did not affect the Chinese market.
Source
2016
Occupational-safety violations
OSHA imposed a $112,700 penalty after finding repeat and serious workplace-safety violations associated with partial finger amputations suffered by two employees.
Source
2004
Retractable Technologies antitrust dispute
BD agreed to pay approximately $100 million to settle allegations that it had used anticompetitive conduct to limit distribution of a competitor's safety syringes. The dispute continued through later patent and advertising-related conflicts.
Source

2024
Acquire Edwards Lifesciences' critical care unitM&A
Background
BD sought to strengthen its critical-care and monitoring-related medical-technology portfolio.
Action taken
BD announced an agreement to acquire Edwards Lifesciences' critical care business.
Announced transaction value. Approximately US$4.2 billion (2024 announcement)
Source
2021
Separate the diabetes-care businessStrategy
Background
BD decided to create a standalone company focused on diabetes-care products.
Action taken
BD announced and then completed the spinoff of the diabetes-care business as Embecta Corporation.
Aftermath
Embecta became independent on April 1, 2022, while BD retained a long-term cannula-supply relationship through 2032.
Source
2017
Acquire C. R. BardM&A
Background
BD pursued a larger presence in interventional, surgical, vascular, and urological medical devices.
Action taken
BD completed the acquisition of C. R. Bard and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.
Aftermath
Bard's product portfolio became part of BD's interventional and surgical activities.
Source
2014
Acquire CareFusionM&A
Background
BD sought to expand its hospital, medication-management, infusion, and clinical-device businesses.
Action taken
BD agreed to acquire CareFusion for approximately $12.2 billion in cash and stock.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened BD's hospital-technology portfolio and increased its scale in medication delivery and related systems.
Transaction value. Approximately US$12.2 billion (2014 announcement)
Source

Recent events

2024
BD announced the acquisition of Edwards Lifesciences' critical care unit[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
M&A
BD announced an agreement to acquire Edwards Lifesciences' critical care business for approximately $4.2 billion.
2022
Embecta became an independent public company[2]BD announces completion of Embecta Corp. spinoffinvestors.bd.com
Other
The separation of BD's diabetes-care business was completed on April 1, 2022. BD remained a long-term cannula supplier to Embecta under an agreement extending through 2032.
2021
BD announced the Embecta diabetes-care separation[2]BD announces completion of Embecta Corp. spinoffinvestors.bd.com
M&A
BD announced plans to separate its diabetes-care business into an independent company, Embecta Corporation.
2017
BD completed the acquisition of C. R. Bard[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
M&A
BD completed its acquisition of C. R. Bard, bringing Bard's surgical, vascular, urological, and other interventional products into the BD group.
2014
BD announced the CareFusion acquisition[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
M&A
BD agreed to acquire CareFusion in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $12.2 billion, expanding its hospital and medication-management businesses.
2010
BD announced a partial recall of Q-Syte and Nexiva products[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
Recall
BD recalled certain lots of Q-Syte Luer Access Devices and Nexiva Closed IV Catheter Systems because air entry or leakage could create serious clinical risks, including air embolism.
2007
BD recalled Discardit II syringes in Poland[1]BD (company)en.wikipedia.org
Recall
BD withdrew specified Discardit II syringe lots from Polish healthcare facilities after reports of dark particulate matter. The company tested affected products and reported sterile particulates in a small proportion of units.

Sources17 sources

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