510(k) Report

510(k) · Cleared

Recalled · Class II · 2011

Synchron LX 20 Clinical Chemistry System, Synchron LX Albumin Reagent, Synchron LX Creatinine Picric Reagent, Synchron L

K965240510(k) TraditionalCleared Mar 10, 199770-day reviewClass I21 CFR 862.2160Recalls 12

Data to Oct 25, 2026 (FDA decisions) Oct 12, 2026 (recalls) Sep 30, 2026 (MAUDE) refreshed weekly, last Nov 3, 2026

Beckman Instruments, Inc. · JJE Analyzer, Chemistry (Photometric, Discrete), For Clinical Use

Cleared on Mar 10, 1997 as substantially equivalent to K950958 (Beckman Instruments, Inc., 1995) and 2 other predicates after a 70-day review. Its family tree reaches back 1 generation to 1988. 17 later devices descend from it. It has been recalled 12 times.

Decided
Mar 10, 1997
Review
70 days
Class
Class I
Product code
JJE
Recalls
12
Predicates
5

Its longest line of descent runs back 1 generation to K883181 (1988). 3 ancestors in all. 17 later devices descend from it, 5 citing it directly.

Other ancestors, by year clearedDescendants, by year cleared 1995: 1 other ancestor1994: 1 other ancestor1997: 2 descendants cleared2004: 2 descendants cleared2007: 2 descendants cleared2001: 1 descendant cleared2006: 1 descendant cleared2020: 3 descendants cleared2011: 1 descendant cleared2021: 1 descendant cleared2023: 3 descendants cleared2026: 1 descendant clearedK883181 · Synchron CX4/CX5 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Reage · Beckman Instruments, Inc. · 1988 · recalled1990200020102020
Other ancestors, by generationDescendants, by generation 1 generation back: 2 other ancestors 1 generation forward: 5 descendants2 generations forward: 7 descendants3 generations forward: 2 descendants4 generations forward: 2 descendants5 generations forward: 1 descendant K883181 · Synchron CX4/CX5 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Reage · Beckman Instruments, Inc. · 1988 · recalled0+5
  1. Root · 1 generation backK883181 Synchron CX4/CX5 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer ReageBeckman Instruments, Inc. · 1988 · Recalled
  2. This deviceK965240 Synchron LX 20 Clinical Chemistry System, Synchron LX Albumin…Beckman Instruments, Inc. · 1997
  3. Descendant · cites it directly · 11 of its ownK042291 Unicel DXC 600 and 800 Synchron SystemsBeckman Coulter, Inc. · 2004 · Recalled
  4. Descendant · 2 generations on · 5 of its ownK183688 i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc. · 2020
  5. Descendant · 2 generations on · 4 of its ownK183678 i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc. · 2020
  6. Descendant · 2 generations on · 4 of its ownK191298 i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc. · 2020
  7. Descendant · 3 generations on · 3 of its ownK210958 i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc. · 2021

Showing 5 of 17 descendants. See all descendants

Descendants cleared per year

1997: 22001: 12004: 22006: 12007: 22011: 12020: 32021: 12023: 32026: 1
1997high 3 (2020) · low 0 (1998)2026

Most influential descendants

Showing 5 of 17 · See all
  • K042291Unicel DXC 600 and 800 Synchron SystemsBeckman Coulter, Inc. · 2004 · cites it directly11descendants
  • K183688i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc. · 2020 · 2 generations on5descendants
  • K183678i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc. · 2020 · 2 generations on4descendants
  • K191298i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc. · 2020 · 2 generations on4descendants
  • K210958i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc. · 2021 · 3 generations on3descendants
View FIG. 1 as a table

Line of descent and top descendants

GenerationNumberDeviceApplicantDecidedRecalls
−1K883181Synchron CX4/CX5 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer ReageBeckman Instruments, Inc.19882
0 (this device)K965240Synchron LX 20 Clinical Chemistry System, Synchron LX Albumin Reagent…Beckman Instruments, Inc.1997—
+1K042291Unicel DXC 600 and 800 Synchron SystemsBeckman Coulter, Inc.200434
+2K183688i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc.2020—
+2K183678i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc.2020—
+2K191298i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc.2020—
+3K210958i-STAT CHEM8+ cartridge with the i-STAT 1 SystemAbbott Point of Care, Inc.2021—

Other ancestors by year cleared

Year clearedDevicesWith a Class I recall
199410
199510

Descendants by year cleared

Year clearedDevicesWith a Class I recall
199720
200110
200420
200610
200720
201110
202030
202110
202330
202610
FIG. 1 — Lineage of K965240, 1988–2026Source: FDA 510(k) summaries, read by 510(k) Report · How lineage is built

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Notable FDA decisions, review times and new Class I recalls. See an issue.

Sources: FDA 510(k) database (decision fields), the FDA summary (predicates and indications), FDA recall and enforcement reports, and MAUDE; processed by 510(k) Report. Verify on FDA.gov · Methodology and accuracy.

Planning a device in JJE? A 510(k) Report weighs predicate choices, recall history and review times for a new device like this one.

  • Candidate predicates for a device like this, rankedin the report
  • Recall history across each candidate’s familyin the report
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What was it cleared against? (5)

Devices the submitter claimed this one is substantially equivalent to (*), and reference devices cited for a specific test or feature (†), as written in the FDA summary; numbers the summary cites that cannot be its predicate are marked – and kept off the family tree.

TypeNumberDeviceApplicantDecidedRecalls
*K950958Synchon CX Delta Clin Syst (CX4, CX5, CX7 Delta)
Summary page 2
…ystems K9509858 LX20 Albumin Assay SYNCHRON 8ystems Albumin K883181 LX20 Creatinine Assay SYNCHRON Systems Creatinine K850958 LX20 Glucose Assay SYNCHRON Systems Glucose K950958 LX20 Phosphorus Assay SYNCHRON 8ystems Phosphorus K883181 LX20 Total Protein Assay SYNCHRON Systems Total Protein K950958 LX20 Ur…
Beckman Instruments, Inc.19954
*K883181Synchron CX4/CX5 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Reage
Summary page 2
…ystems Summary of Safety & Effectiveness 40 5.0 6.0 Predicate Device(s) SYNCHRON LX20 System SYNCHRON CX Systems K9509858 LX20 Albumin Assay SYNCHRON 8ystems Albumin K883181 LX20 Creatinine Assay SYNCHRON Systems Creatinine K850958 LX20 Glucose Assay SYNCHRON Systems Glucose K950958 LX20 Phosphorus Ass…
Beckman Instruments, Inc.19882
Kept off the family treeK850958FDA’s K850958 is Blood Gas Sampler Kit
Our OCR of the scanned summary read K850958, FDA’s number for Blood Gas Sampler Kit (Churchill Corp.). Its FDA name has none of the distinctive words the summary uses for the device it names, “SYNCHRON Systems Creatinine”. Kept off the family tree.
Summary page 2
…edicate Device(s) SYNCHRON LX20 System SYNCHRON CX Systems K9509858 LX20 Albumin Assay SYNCHRON 8ystems Albumin K883181 LX20 Creatinine Assay SYNCHRON Systems Creatinine K850958 LX20 Glucose Assay SYNCHRON Systems Glucose K950958 LX20 Phosphorus Assay SYNCHRON 8ystems Phosphorus K883181 LX20 Total Protein…
Churchill Corp.1985—
*K942676Synchron CX3 Delta
Summary page 2
…ioride K850958 LX20 Potassium Assay SYNCHRON Systems Potassium K9850958 LX20 Sodium Assay SYNCHRON Systems Sodium K9850958 LX AQUA CAL 1,2,3 SYNCHRON 8ystems Aqueous Cal K942676 SYNCHRON Protein Cal SYNCHRON Systems Protein Cal K952676 Description The LX20 Clinical Chemistry System is a fully automated,…
Beckman-Diagnostic Systems Group1994—
Kept off the family treeK952676FDA’s K952676 is Branemark System Ball Attachment System
Our OCR of the scanned summary read K952676, FDA’s number for Branemark System Ball Attachment System (Nobelpharma USA, Inc.). Its FDA name has none of the distinctive words the summary uses for the device it names, “SYNCHRON Systems Protein Cal”. Kept off the family tree.
Summary page 2
…sium K9850958 LX20 Sodium Assay SYNCHRON Systems Sodium K9850958 LX AQUA CAL 1,2,3 SYNCHRON 8ystems Aqueous Cal K942676 SYNCHRON Protein Cal SYNCHRON Systems Protein Cal K952676 Description The LX20 Clinical Chemistry System is a fully automated, computer controlied, clinical chemistry analyzer intended…
Nobelpharma USA, Inc.1995—

Also cleared against K950958: 2 other devices →

What descends from it? (17)

See all 17

5 later devices cite it directly; ranked here by how many devices descend from each in turn.

NumberDeviceApplicantDecidedDescendants
K042291Unicel DXC 600 and 800 Synchron SystemsBeckman Coulter, Inc.200411
K014034Modification to Synchron LX Clinical Chemistry Systems (LX20 and LX20 Pro)Beckman Coulter, Inc.20011
K071277Synchron LX20 Clinical Systems, Creatinine Test SystemsBeckman Coulter, Inc.20070
K971505Synchron Systems Cholesterol (Chol) ReagentBeckman Instruments, Inc.19970
K970905Synchron CX Systems Lipase (Lipa) ReagentBeckman Instruments, Inc.19970

Has anything in its family been recalled? (0 Class I)

Recalls of this device

DateClassRecallRoot causeReason
Apr 5, 2011Not classifiedZ-2130-2011Equipment maintenanceThe recall was initiated because Beckman Coulter has received reports of incorrect electrolyte results on Synchron LX systems due to a variety of maintenance-related hardware issues.
Oct 22, 2010Not classifiedZ-2071-2011Environmental controlThis recall was initiated because Beckman Coulter has confirmed that for User-Defined Chemistries (UDRs), the polychrome correction is not automatically updated when wavelengths are modified.
Sep 22, 2010Class IIZ-1951-2013Process controlBeckman Coulter is recalling the Synchron Systems LX20/UniCel DxC ISE Reference Reagent because it has a potassium (K) response near the instrument calibration flag limits and may exceed the limits on some instruments.
Aug 10, 2010Not classifiedZ-1619-2011OtherThe recall was initiated because Cartridge Glucose (GLU) on UniCel DxC and Synchron LX instruments may give falsely high results for moderately hemolysed samples. The Impact: (1) Neonatal samples drawn by lancets are more likely to be…
Aug 2, 2010Not classifiedZ-2389-2010PendingThe recall was initiated after Beckman Coulter confirmed reports that black / brown particulates were observed in some bottles of the Creatinine Alkaline Buffer (Buffer lot M911427 and M911518) in modular Creatinine (CREm) reagent kit…
Apr 15, 2010Not classifiedZ-2388-2010OtherUniCel DxC and Synchron LX instruments produced inaccurate (low) GLUCm results. False low results could affect or delay diagnosis or treatment.
Apr 5, 2007Not classifiedZ-1094-2008Software designIntermittent Failure of Stirrer Motor-Beckman Coulter has determined that incorrect Glucose results on LX20 or DxC instruments have been related to an intermittent failure of the stirrer motor. -Stirrer motors can stall without any flags…
Sep 6, 2005Not classifiedZ-0009-06Software designSynchron LX Systems Operating Software Version 4.5/v4.6 CBD (Chemistry Database) introduced an adjustment to the urine Uric Acid database calculation scheme which for some patients, depending on the volume of 24 hour urine sample, results…
Oct 10, 2003Not classifiedZ-1098-04OtherNumeric results are erroneously accepted by the in-house information system without qualifying symbols "<" or ">". In addition, the in-house system may interpret the results incorrectly.
Oct 7, 2003Not classifiedZ-1116-04Other'Initial Rate High' parameter for User Defined Reagents does not perform as indicated in the Synchron LX Clinical Systems Operations Manual.
Sep 18, 2003Not classifiedZ-0096-04OtherSample wheel may home to the wrong position.
Dec 16, 2002Not classifiedZ-0545-03OtherThe disk that controls the home position of the sample wheel comes loose preventing a proper home sequence.

No ancestor or descendant has a Class I recall.

What does this lineage say?

  • 2 of the 3 ancestors have a recall of any class.
  • Of its descendants, K042291 (Beckman Coulter, Inc., 2004) has gone furthest, with 11 descendants of its own.
  • 2 other devices also cite its predicate K950958.

How does its category compare?

All JJE devices

JJE Analyzer, Chemistry (Photometric, Discrete), For Clinical Use: FDA decisions, review times, recalls and adverse event reports over 20 years.

FDA decisions per year · JJE

1in 2019

2008: 12011: 22012: 12013: 12014: 32019: 1
2007high 3 (2014) · low 0 (2007)2026

2026 to Oct 25, outlined.

Median 510(k) review, days · JJE

224in 2014

2014: 224 days median
2007high 224 (2014)2026

Receipt to decision; years with fewer than 3 clearances left blank.

Recalls per year · JJE

6in 2025

2007: 202008: 202009: 142010: 322011: 252012: 162013: 212014: 142015: 152016: 92017: 182018: 172019: 72020: 72021: 62023: 122024: 62025: 62026 (partial year): 5
2007high 32 (2010) · low 0 (2022)2026

Class I (0 since 2007) Class II/III not classified

Adverse event reports per year · JJE

4,400in 2025

2007: 2,1812008: 2,1592009: 3,4402010: 3,2732011: 11,6062012: 3,7072013: 2,4892014: 2,8412015: 2,7932016: 2,5802017: 1,8692018: 4,5902019: 3,9482020: 3,9862021: 3,9202022: 3,9982023: 3,7832024: 4,2212025: 4,400
2007high 11,606 (2011) · low 1,869 (2017)2025

MAUDE reports naming product code JJE, not matched to any one device; reports are not rates.

View these four charts as a table
YearDecisionsMedian 510(k) review, daysRecalls (Class I)MAUDE reports
20070—202,181
20081—202,159
20090—143,440
20100—323,273
20112—2511,606
20121—163,707
20131—212,489
20143224142,841
20150—152,793
20160—92,580
20170—181,869
20180—174,590
20191—73,948
20200—73,986
20210—63,920
20220—03,998
20230—123,783
20240—64,221
20250—64,400
20260—5—

What is it indicated for?

The SYNCHRON LX20 Clinical Chemistry System is a fully automated, computer controlled, clinical chemistry analyzer intended for the in vitro quantitative measurement of a variety of analytes of clinical interest in biological fluids, such as, serum, plasma, urine, and cerebral spinal fluid (sample type is chemistry dependent).

Indications for use read by OCR from a scanned FDA summary, so letters may be misread. Check the PDF before quoting it.

Cite this page

510(k) Report. “K965240: Synchron LX 20 Clinical Chemistry System, Synchron LX Albumin Reagent, Synchron LX Creatinine Picric Reagent, Synchron L.” Lineage record from FDA 510(k) data and the FDA summary. Updated Nov 3, 2026. Accessed Nov 4, 2026. https://510kreport.com/device/K965240

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Record history
  • FDA decision record loaded May 2, 2026
  • Summary read Oct 13, 2026 (extraction version 9eaa42aa01ed)
  • Lineage and recalls computed Nov 3, 2026
  • Page last updated Nov 3, 2026