Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
Last verified: October 30, 2026. This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
A StatLock is a catheter stabilization device: an adhesive pad with a built-in retainer that holds the hub of an IV or other catheter in place on the skin so the line does not shift or pull out. StatLock is a brand name of Bard Access Systems (BD), and people also search for the same job as an “IV securement device” or “PICC line securement”. Clinic staff, supply buyers and students use this page to understand what the device is, where it fits among securement methods, and what the manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU) say about handling it.
What is a StatLock?
A StatLock is a single-use stabilization device for compatible catheter hubs that have a push-tab. According to the IFU for the BD StatLock IV Ultra device (checked October 30, 2026), it is supplied sterile (ethylene oxide), latex free, and labelled “Rx Only”, meaning US federal law restricts sale to or on the order of a physician. “StatLock” and “Bard” are trademarks of C. R. Bard, Inc. The purpose is stabilization: keeping the catheter where it was placed and limiting manipulation of the catheter.
Who uses it: the IFU states that application and removal must be performed by trained personnel, so in practice it is used by nurses and other trained clinical staff, and bought by the clinics, hospitals and infusion services that supply them.
How it is built
The device has two working parts described in the IFU: a retainer that the catheter hub or tubing is pressed into, and an adhesive pad that attaches the retainer to the skin. The IFU marks an arrow on the device that must point toward the catheter tip. The IFU describes securing the tube or catheter into the retainer, which is why the hub must be a compatible push-tab type.
Types and where it is used
BD lists a family of StatLock devices (IV Select, IV Plus and IV Ultra models appear in its listings) and states on its product page that the StatLock family is for peripheral IV catheters, PICCs, central venous catheters, epidural catheters, arterial catheters, dialysis catheters and drainage catheters, in adult, pediatric and neonatal sizes. A specific model has to match the catheter hub it secures, so the model is chosen from the catheter’s own labelling and the IFU of the device.
| Securement method | Key points | Source |
|---|---|---|
| StatLock-style stabilization device | Retainer plus adhesive pad for compatible push-tab hubs; single use; the IFU says to replace it at least every 7 days. | BD IV Ultra IFU |
| Tape | BD states that up to 48% of tape-secured IV catheters result in complications such as phlebitis and infiltration. This is a manufacturer claim. | BD product page IV0548 |
| Sutures | The IFU allows the pad to be sutured to the skin “if desired or deemed necessary”. Sutures were also a comparator in the PICC trials summarised in the 2017 meta-analysis. | BD IV Ultra IFU; Luo et al. 2017 |
How to choose
Only two selection criteria are stated in the IFU. First, the catheter must have a compatible hub with a push-tab, because that is the stated indication. Second, the device is contraindicated for people with known tape or adhesive allergies. The IFU also warns against using it where loss of adherence could occur, such as with a confused patient or nonadherent skin. Which model and size suits a given catheter is decided from the catheter and device labelling, not from this page.
Safe use and handling basics
- Single use only; do not resterilize, and do not use if the package is damaged (IFU).
- Do not alter the device (IFU).
- Avoid contact between the device and alcohol or acetone; the IFU says both can weaken the bonding of components and pad adherence.
- The IFU says the device should be replaced at least every 7 days, and that pad adherence and catheter or tube position should be routinely inspected.
- Orient the device so the arrow points toward the catheter tip, and minimize catheter manipulation (IFU).
- Observe universal blood and body fluid precautions, and use sterile technique for application and removal, as the IFU directs.
Application and removal are clinical tasks for trained personnel following the IFU and local policy; this page does not give a procedure.
Common mistakes
- Letting alcohol or acetone touch the device or pad. The IFU warns that both weaken adhesion and bonding.
- Attaching the pad before the catheter is connected. The IFU instructs always connecting the device to the catheter before adhering the pad to the skin.
- Skipping inspection. The IFU calls for routine checks of pad adherence and catheter position.
- Leaving it past the replacement interval. The IFU says at least every 7 days.
- Altering or reusing the device. Both are prohibited by the IFU.
What the evidence says
Two statements sit side by side and should be read separately. BD says on its product page that StatLock devices have been shown to decrease rates of total IV complications and phlebitis compared with tape, and that they are more resistant to dislodgement than named 3M products; the same page notes that “benchtop testing may not be indicative of actual clinical outcomes”. Independently, Luo X et al. (Nursing & Health Sciences 2017;19(4):403-413) pooled thirteen randomized controlled trials with 1,970 patients on StatLock securement of PICCs. StatLock appeared to outperform tape and suture on dislodgement, unplanned removal, skin ulceration, phlebitis, bloodstream infection and cellulitis, and comfort was better, but the authors reported substantial heterogeneity and low-quality evidence for the main outcomes and said the results should be viewed with caution.
Frequently asked questions
Is a StatLock the same as an IV securement device?
StatLock is one brand of IV securement or catheter stabilization device, made by Bard Access Systems (BD). “IV securement device” and “catheter stabilization device” are the generic descriptions of the product class.
What is PICC line securement?
It is the way a PICC is held in place at the arm. The BD StatLock family lists PICCs among the catheters it is made for; see the PICC line guide for the catheter itself and the central venous catheter guide for the wider device class.
How is a StatLock different from tape?
Tape is a separate securement method, while a StatLock holds the catheter in a retainer on an adhesive pad. See the comparison table above and the evidence section for what the manufacturer and the independent review each report. For the tape itself, see what medical tape is.
How often should it be replaced?
The IFU for the BD StatLock IV Ultra says at least every 7 days. Other models have their own IFU, which governs.
Related reading
For the other items used when starting an IV, see what an IV start kit contains. Infusion supplies are listed in the infusion supplies category.
Sources
- Bard Access Systems, StatLock Catheter Stabilization Device (IV Ultra) Instructions for Use, checked October 30, 2026: manufacturer IFU (PDF).
- BD, StatLock IV Select Micro Clave Pediatric (IV0548) product page, checked October 30, 2026: bd.com product page.
- Luo X et al., Nursing & Health Sciences 2017;19(4):403-413, systematic review and meta-analysis of StatLock securement for PICCs: abstract record, checked October 30, 2026.
