As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 billion medications were prescribed to patients in the US during a period of almost 3 years. A huge chunk of these medications is to be administered intravenously using a syringe. Here, the role of luer lock as well as luer slip syringes becomes prominent. However, before using the syringes, it is important to learn how to use luer lock syringes.
Luer lock syringes are safe and leak-proof medical devices
In this article, let us go through a step-by-step guide to address the question of how to use luer lock syringe. In addition, some of the best luer lock syringe brands have also been discussed to help you choose from.
What is a Luer Lock Syringe?
A luer lock syringe is a medical device which has a luer tip. This involves the presence of a threaded tip which has an outer and an inner thread appearing as a locking collar around the syringe tip. A needle hub is attached to such a syringe by screwing it in place. The threads help the needle stay in place thus issues like accidental detachment and leakage are prevented.
How to Use Luer Lock Syringes?
While learning how to use luer lock syringe, the following steps must be followed:
Prepare Yourself
Wash your hands with soap and water. You can also wear gloves while handling the syringe as well as the medication. You must have cotton balls, alcohol pads, a luer lock syringe, a luer lock needle, a Band-Aid, a medication vial, as well as a sharps container.
Choose the Right Syringe
While learning how to use luer lock syringe, the first step is to take a suitable luer lock syringe. Choose the right size of the syringe depending upon the volume of medication to be filled in it.
Detach the Hypodermic Needle
Unscrew the luer lock syringe to remove the needle from it. To do so, rotate the hypodermic needle anticlockwise against the luer joint.
Screw the Luer Lock Needle
Take a needle with a suitable gauge size say 18 G to fill the medication in the syringe. Put the needle hub on the screw thread of the luer lock syringe and fix it in place by rotating it in a clockwise fashion. Make sure that a secure connection is achieved. Remember that this needle must also have a luer locking mechanism.
Check the Medication
While learning how to use luer lock syringe, check the medication vial to make sure that you have the correct one. Also, take a look at the expiry date. Through the medication if it is already expired. Read the detailed information provided with the medication to minimize the risk of any error.
Prepare the Vial
Open the glass vial containing your medication by removing the vial cap. The rubber seal on the mouth of the vial must also be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. It is essential to know the dose of the liquid medication that needs to be filled into the syringe barrel.
Insert the Needle into the Vial
Pull the plunger of the needle towards you and insert it into the vial. While learning how to use luer lock syringe, remember that the vial must be held in an upside-down position. Push the plunger in to remove the air in the syringe barrel.
Fill the Barrel
Now, after making sure that the tip of the needle is fully submerged in the liquid medication, pull the plunger towards it until you have the required dose. Before learning how to use luer lock syringe, you must have a thorough understanding of converting the doses based on the type of markings on the syringes.
The needle of the syringe is submerged into the medication vessel held in a vertical position
Remove the Air Bubbles
Once the syringe is filled, pull the needle out of the vial. While keeping it in a vertical position with the needle facing the upward direction, check if the medication has air bubbles in it. If yes, tap on the barrel at a point away from the needle to let these bubbles out.
Replace the Hypodermic Needle
Now, rotate the 18 G needle anticlockwise once again to remove it from the syringe and waste it into the sharps container. Replace the hypodermic needle in place and lock it firmly to achieve a more secure connection. Make sure that the luer locking connection is strong enough to prevent the leakage of the medication.
Prepare the Patient
Choose a suitable site for injection and wipe it with an alcohol pad. Cleaning the skin is a crucial step to avoid infections and should be given special focus while learning how to use luer lock syringe.
Administer the Dose
Insert the needle into the patient’s body and deliver the dose. Remove the needle and apply pressure on the site using a cotton ball to prevent bleeding. You can also insert the dose in an IV infusion drip bag containing fluids like normal saline (NS), dextrose in water (D5W), Ringer’s lactate solution, etc.
Dispose of the Syringe
Once its job is done, the last step is to dispose of the syringe for safety purposes. Cover the needle of the luer lock syringe with its cap. Make sure that the cap is fully sealed. Throw the syringe into the sharps container.
Luer lock syringes are compatible with needles as well as many other medical equipment
Applications of Luer Lock Syringes
While learning how to use luer lock syringes, it is also important to keep in mind their uses and applications. The following section includes some of these:
- Luer lock syringes are considered ideal for delivering larger volumes of liquid medication to patients.
- These also find application in washing tubes which carry small volumes of fluids.
- The leakage-preventing assembly of luer lock syringes enhances the safety of the user as the risk of accidental detachment is insignificant. In addition, these also reduce medication wastage.
- The luer lock syringes are also preferable while learning how to use luer lock syringes especially when it comes to delivering vaccines, insulin, or injectable antibiotics.
Luer lock syringes are single-use and should be disposed of properly for safety purposes
Luer Lock Syringes at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications
Luer lock syringes are considered some of the best syringes available in the market. These come with a luer locking system which securely connects the needle to the syringe tip. Their polyethylene or polypropylene construction makes them sturdy and enables them to bear high pressure without joint bursting issues.
Both large as well as small syringes are available with luer lock system which should be kept in mind while learning how to use luer lock syringe. Some of the luer lock syringes are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below along with their features and purchase links:
Sol-Millennium P180005NSB Sol-M 5ml Luer Lock Syringe w/o Needle (bulk, non-sterile) (1600/CS)
Sol-Millennium P180005NSB Sol-M 5ml Sterile Luer Lock Syringe w/o Needle (bulk, non-sterile) (1600/CS)
US$160.99
Product Details
Sol-Millennium P180005NSB Sol-M 5ml is a luer lock syringe a product that is packaged in bulk form and comes without a needle. The construction materials are plastic-based and free from any kind of toxic agents which include DEHP, natural rubber latex, etc. Therefore, while learning how to use luer lock syringe, these should be given preference.
The product is also sterile which means these are free from any kind of microbe which can cause an infection upon liquid medication administration. The transparent barrels of these Sol-Millennium syringes allow the medical staff to visualize the contents of the medication as well. In addition, the presence of any air bubbles is also easy to detect.
Moreover, a silicone-based lubricant is also applied on the plungers of these Sol-Millennium P180005NSB Sol-M 5 ml syringes allowing their movements smooth and easy. In addition, the finger grip on these syringes is also strong which reduces errors. Being a luer lock syringe, these products have secure fittings with their needles. As a result, the chances of medication leakage are minimal.
Sol-Millennium P180030NSB Sol-M 30ml Luer Lock Syringe w/o Needle (bulk, non-sterile) (300/CS)
Sol-Millennium P180030NSB Sol-M 30ml Luer Lock Syringe w/o Needle (bulk, non-sterile) (300/CS)
US$107.49
Product Details
Sol-Millennium P180030NSB Sol-M 30 ml luer lock syringes are of the best quality products in their domain. These should be given preference when it comes to learning how to use luer lock syringes. The product comes without needles which are to be attached separately. Moreover, these are also non-sterile.
In addition, the product is also safe as it is free from harmful chemical toxins which are often present in plastic-based products. These Sol-Millennium P180030NSB Sol-M 30 ml luer lock syringes are also easy to control while administering the medication as the attachment of the needle to the syringe tip is strong and does not allow the liquid medication to leak.
These Sol-Millennium P180030NSB Sol-M 30 ml luer lock syringes are also transparent to allow the visualization of medication in the syringe barrel. These syringes are often chosen while learning how to use luer lock syringes as well as while administering vaccines and antibiotics.
Sol-Millennium 161000LL Sol-M 1ml Insulin Syringe Luer Lock w/o needle (low dead space tip, orange plunger) (800/CS)
Sol-Millennium 161000LL Sol-M 1ml Insulin Syringe Luer Lock w/o needle (low dead space tip, orange plunger) (800/CS)
US$254.99
Product Details
Sol-Millennium 161000LL Sol-M 1 ml insulin syringes are luer lock syringes that come without an attached needle. These are intended to be used for the delivery of insulin to diabetics. Their diameter is comparatively smaller and these are easy to use. Moreover, these syringes can also be bought in bulk and stored for the patient’s convenience.
The product has a low dead space tip and comes with an orange plunger for easy identification. When it comes to learning how to use luer lock syringes, it is also essential to understand their construction materials. In this case, these Sol-Millennium 161000LL Sol-M 1 ml luer lock insulin syringes are made up of plastic which is free from toxic chemical agents like PVC, natural rubber latex, DEHP, etc.
Moreover, these Sol-Millennium 161000LL Sol-M 1 ml luer lock insulin syringes are also CE-marked which renders them reliable. Their size also promotes the filling of liquid medication due to the phenomenon of capillary action.
When it comes to their appearance, these are clear and have easy-to-read markings. That’s why, elderly diabetic patients who have impaired vision can also use these syringes by themselves with accuracy. In addition, their safety mechanism indicates to the user both visually and audibly that the syringe is ready to use without any risk of insulin leakage. These features make them ideal while learning how to use luer lock syringe.
Sol-Millennium 1851815B Sol-M 5mL Luer Lock Syringe with Blunt Fill Needle 18 Gauge 1-1/2 Inch (800/CS)
Sol-Millennium 1851815B Sol-M 5mL Luer Lock Syringe with Blunt Fill Needle 18 Gauge 1-1/2 Inch (800/CS)
US$199.88
Product Details
Sol-Millennium 1851815B Sol-M 5 mL luer lock syringes are often talked about when it comes to learning how to use luer lock syringe. These are some of the products that are provided with an 18 gauge needle which has a length of up to 11/2 inches.
Like the above-mentioned products, these syringes are also transparent and are easy to use with well-controlled plungers. In addition, the silicone-based coating of the plungers allows frictionless movement within the barrel.
These Sol-Millennium 1851815B Sol-M 5 mL luer lock syringes are single-use products that are packed in blister packs and are constructed using polypropylene.
*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.
The needle length is chosen by the medical staff depending on the needle size
All the luer lock syringes mentioned in this article, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of luer lock syringes as well as non-luer lock syringes.
Conclusion
Intravenous delivery is the route of medication administration that bypasses the digestive system and, that’s why, is faster than the oral route. This renders the use of syringes highly essential. Among different types, luer lock syringes are often chosen by healthcare providers.
When it comes to learning how to use luer lock syringe, it must be kept in mind that the process is simple yet safe for the medical staff. This is because the medication never leaks from the syringe owing to the luer lock mechanism achieved when the needle hub is twisted in place on the syringe thread.
Considering their effectiveness in delivering liquid medications, the luer lock syringes should be stocked up in every healthcare facility. For purchasing different kinds of a luer lock syringes as well as nonluer lock syringes, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/drug-use-therapeutic.htm
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
