the stuff we used to use was clearish/pale pink, it is now bright pink (like beetroot juice)following the above (terrible) situation.

In my experience, all the fluids and equipment used are laid out on the sterile field, the antispetic is usually poured by the nurse into a pot and the injectable meds are drawn up in a sterile manner, into syringes, although I recall years ago seeing some anaesthetists pouring the meds ino a sterile tray- crazy in retrospect. Most of the epidural medications are now in vials which could only be drawn up with syringes. What a horrendous mistake, feel for the family so much