A disposable syringe consists of a barrel, plunger, rubber stopper, luer lock or luer slip, and finger flange. It is designed to be used with a disposable needle for subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous drug injection, as well as for blood collection or dissolving medications.
Classification of Disposable Syringes Based on Contamination Level:
Disposable syringes can be categorized into three groups according to their level of contamination. The disposal method should vary accordingly:
Heavily Contaminated Syringes: These syringes have been in direct contact with a patient’s bodily fluids, such as those used for blood draws, thoracentesis, or paracentesis. Bodily fluids are considered potential sources of infection.
Moderately Contaminated Syringes: These refer to syringes where only the needle comes into contact with the patient, such as those used for routine injections or intravenous infusions, including administering anti-inflammatory drugs.
Minimally or Non-Contaminated Syringes: Syringes that do not come into direct contact with the patient, such as those used for adding medications to infusion sets, provided there was no improper handling or accidental contamination.
Understanding this classification is essential to ensure proper disposal methods are followed for syringes based on their contamination level.
Material and Performance of Disposable Syringes:
Disposable syringes are typically made from medical-grade polypropylene (PP) with relevant certifications. However, in practice, not all syringes used by hospitals strictly utilize certified medical-grade PP.
Manufacturers may adjust material quality based on the hospital’s scale and procurement requirements.
Material Requirements Include:
Multiple sterilization options, including autoclaving, steam, ethylene oxide (EO), gamma irradiation, and electron beam.
High transparency and gloss.
Excellent rigidity and impact resistance with minimal deformation.
