Auto-Disable Syringes

Keep the needle and syringe sterile. Check that the package is well sealed or that the cap of the needle and the piston cap haven’t been previously removed or opened. Do not use the syringes if the packaging is damaged. Remove the syringe from its plastic wrapping (peel the package open from the syringe plunger end), or detach the plastic cap.

Take off the needle cap without touching the needle. Never touch the needle with your fingers. Health workers sometimes place their fingers on the needle to help guide it in when pushing through the skin. Touching the needle with your fingers contaminates it as it increases the transmission of blood-borne pathogens between patients or from the patient to the health care worker. If the injection site is bleeding, do not place your finger on it to stop the bleeding (for example with cotton) as well. It is a better practice to ask the patient or the adult accompanying small children to hold the cotton on the injection site. If the nurse contaminates his or her fingers with blood, he or she can transmit pathogens from one patient’s injection site to another.

Don’t pull the piston out till you are ready to fill the syringe with vaccine, as once you do, you won’t be able to pull it again: it will disable the syringe. Insert the needle in the vaccine vial: its tip has to be in the lowest part (bottom) of the vial. Pull the piston slowly to fill the auto-disable syringe, trying not to draw air inside of it (push the piston to remove the excess air if necessary).

If air remains inside the syringe, throw it away and try again with a new one. Do the same if you remove too much air and have less vaccine than you should, as you won’t have the full dosage you should use.

Proceed with the injection at the appropriate site. Push the plunger forward and inject the vaccine. At the beginning or just at the end of the injection, the plunger will automatically lock, so the syringe cannot be reused.

Take off the syringe from the vaccine vial and don’t recap the needle, as recapping it is the main reason of needle stick injury.

• The auto-disable syringe is designed to prevent the reuse of non-sterile syringes;
• Widely available;
• They are easy to use and need little instruction, training or explanation before use;
• They are ready to be used immediately as they are pre-sterilized (which eliminates the need for any other sterilizing equipment);
• No user intervention is required if the disabling mechanism is activated before giving the injection;
• The fixed-needle design reduces the dead space in the syringe that wastes vaccine, and eliminates the chances of air bubble entry into the syringe due to the loose fitting of the needle;
• They limit risk of infection through accidents and thus protect both medical professionals and patients from transmitting blood-borne pathogens such as HIV or Hepatitis B;
• They pose the lowest risk of reuse;
• They are non-toxic (environmentally friendly);
• Auto-disable syringes are pre-sterilized and therefore there is no need to carry bulky equipment like pressure cookers/stoves/kerosene to the session site. This is the logistical advantage in the field.

• DO NOT re-use syringes that have been used already before, including mixing syringes. Used, disposable syringes cannot be sterilized and eventually change shape at high temperatures, which are necessary for sterilization. Health workers who try to decontaminate, clean and sterilize disposable equipment are at risk of accidental injuries. Reusing syringes and needles can also transmit infections between patients or from patient to doctor/nurse;
• Prepare injections in a clean, designated area that is free from blood and body fluid contamination;
• Follow product-specific recommendations for storage, handling and use of vaccines;
• Do not remove the used needle from the syringe with your hands;
• NEVER leave the needle in the top of the vaccine vial to withdraw multiple doses, as it provides a direct route for microorganisms to enter the vial and contaminate the vaccine. The needle used to withdraw the vaccine from the vial should also be used to administer the dose;
• ALWAYS use a new needle and a new syringe every time an injection is given. The practice of loading multiple doses in a syringe and then injecting different patients is dangerous and never justifiable;
• ALWAYS use a sterile needle and sterile syringe to mix each vial of freeze-dried vaccine. Then throw away the mixing syringe and needle in the needle-disposal box;
• Discard a needle that has touched any non-sterile surface;
• ALWAYS use a new needle and a new syringe each time vaccine is withdrawn from a multi-dose vial. Re-using the same syringe to give injections to several patients, even if the needle is changed, is a dangerous practice. It allows pathogens to contaminate the multi-dose vial and then be transmitted from patient to patient both by the contaminated vaccine and the syringe;

Luer slip fittings are pressed together and held by friction (they have no threads) and are used for IM and subcutaneous injections.

Luer lock fittings are securely joined by means of a tabbed hub on the female fitting which screws into threads in a sleeve on the male fitting. They are recommended in certain circumstances for IV treatments. These include attaching a syringe to a syringe pump, in order to prevent disconnection, or when preparing and dispensing cytotoxic drugs, to prevent disconnection and spillage or splashing of drugs.

During administration via a central venous access device, it may be necessary to use a luer lock syringe to prevent disconnection, blood spillage and/or air entry if a closed system is not being used. However, concerning the administration of IV bolus injections or flushes, no clear recommendations are recorded.

Most health care professionals use needle-free systems, and we can assess that both luer slip and luer lock syringes link securely to needle-free injection caps. Luer lock syringes can be twisted in order to provide a safe and reliable connection, whilst luer slips are pushed into the cap and, once given a quarter turn, will also ensure a secure connection. Be careful not to turn the luer slip tip too far or it will pop out of the cap, causing disconnection.

When administration sets with needle-free connections at the Y site or side arm are used, bolus injections can be given without a needle, using either syringe type.

Both types of syringe can be used to administer an IV bolus injection or flush. The key point to take into consideration is the solution that has to be dispensed: bolus IV antibiotics can be administered via a luer slip syringe, but cytotoxic drugs must be administered via a luer lock syringe.

If a practitioner is going to take care of the patient, a luer slip syringe is suggested, but if the patient is going to be left to receive an infusion (for example via a syringe pump), then a luer lock syringe should be chosen.

Our syringes are made of a variety of materials, such as medical-grade PVC for the barrel and plunger, a rubber plunger tip/piston that ensures reliability regarding the syringe’s seal, and a precision needle. The syringes barrels are transparent, which allows for measurements to be quick.

AdvaCare also offers different forms of syringes, discover a few of them here below:

• Disposable Syringes
• Spinal Needles
• Hypodermic Needles
• Safety Syringes