BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) India has launched Sherlock 3CG+, an advanced technology aimed at transforming the accuracy, safety, and efficiency of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line placement. The innovation is especially beneficial for cancer patients and others requiring long-term intravenous therapy. By enabling bedside catheter tip confirmation, Sherlock 3CG+ addresses long-standing challenges linked with conventional, radiology-dependent methods.
Traditionally, confirming the correct placement of a PICC line tip requires radiological imaging, which often involves patient transfers, procedural delays, and added discomfort. These factors disrupt clinical workflows and may slow down treatment initiation. Sherlock 3CG+ overcomes these issues through real-time, ECG-based navigation and tip confirmation, allowing clinicians to live-track the catheter’s progress and verify placement immediately at the bedside — often eliminating the need for post-insertion X-rays.
Clinical data underscore the need for this shift. Conventional blind insertion or chest X-ray confirmation methods can lead to malposition rates as high as 20% and an average confirmation delay of around 176 minutes. In contrast, the Sherlock 3CG+ system has demonstrated zero percent malposition in studies, while reducing the insertion-to-confirmation time to approximately 33 minutes. This substantial efficiency gain enhances patient safety, reduces resource utilization, and supports faster initiation of infusion therapy.
Atul Grover, Managing Director, BD India/South Asia, highlighted the company’s vision, stating, “With the launch of Sherlock 3CG+, we are confident of supporting Indian clinicians with technologies that improve procedural outcomes and patient comfort.” The system’s ability to provide instant bedside confirmation means treatment can commence without delay, directly contributing to better patient outcomes and streamlined hospital workflows.
To promote awareness and adoption, BD India organized a four-city roadshow in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, featuring leading oncologists, hematologists, intensivists, and interventional radiologists. Global BD faculty shared best practices and real-world insights on the Sherlock 3CG+ Tip Confirmation System.
Now available across India, Sherlock 3CG+ is expected to drive a paradigm shift from radiology-based to ECG-based bedside confirmation as the emerging standard of care for PICC line placement. Local BD teams are providing hands-on demonstrations, product information, and onboarding support to ensure smooth integration into clinical practice.