UNSPSC 10101809: Leeches

The medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, which is native to Europe, and its congeners have been used for clinical bloodletting for thousands of years.

UNSPSC 10101809 Leeches, a Commodity code, appears across state and local health and medical procurement with minimal recent activity visible in the public records. When state and local governments purchase leeches, they do so primarily through hospital systems, medical centers, and public health departments for therapeutic and reconstructive surgical applications, particularly in plastic and reconstructive surgery, microvascular procedures, and wound care where leeches improve blood flow and tissue viability. Purchases typically involve small quantities sourced from specialized medical suppliers rather than volume procurement, and buying occurs episodically rather than on routine schedules.

The recent state and local opportunities block for this code contains no posted solicitations, indicating no active RFP, RFQ, IFB, or ITB notices are currently visible in the public procurement record. Absence of recent activity under this Commodity code does not signal declining clinical use—leech therapy remains an established surgical adjunct with FDA clearance—but rather reflects the narrow buyer base (primarily large medical centers with reconstructive programs), the small contract values typical of this spend category, and the reliance on standing supply agreements with specialized vendors rather than competitive rebid cycles. Firms pursuing this code should focus on relationships with regional hospital networks and state health systems rather than broad public solicitation pipelines.