1. Unit 32 Syringes

2. Basic Principles of Reading Syringes Syringes are measuring devices used for parenteral or injectable medications. Common injection routes include –intramuscular or IM: into a muscle –intravenous or IV: into a vein –subcutaneous or SQ: into the subcutaneous layer of tissue –intradermal or ID: just under the top layer of the skin

3. Basic Principles of Reading Syringes Most parenteral medications are in a liquid or solution form. They are packaged in dosage vials, ampules, or prefilled syringes. There are many different types of syringes. The most common types are: –3 milliliters (mL) or cubic centimeters (cc) –5 mL or cc –10 mL or cc –20 mL or cc syringes

4. Reading a 3-Milliliter Syringe Before using any syringe, check the calibrations and determine what each line represents. The first long line at the base of the syringe where it joins with the needle represents the zero mark for both of the scales. As shown on the next slide: –For the mL scale, each line above the zero line represents 0.1 or 1/10 of a mL. –Longer lines represent the 0.5-mL (or 1⁄2-mL) marks and the 1-mL levels.

5. Reading a 3-Milliliter Syringe 3-Milliliter Syringe.

6. Reading a Tuberculin Syringe A tuberculin or low-dose syringe is used to inject small amounts of medications such as pediatric (child) dosages and heparin (an anticoagulant or substance that prevents the blood from clotting). It is also used for intradermal injections, allergy testing, and allergy injections.

7. Reading a Tuberculin Syringe The first long line at the base of the syringe where it joins with the needle represents the zero mark for both of the scales. As shown on the next slide: –The bottom scale is for mL, and the syringe contains a total of 1 mL. –Each line above the zero line represents 0.01 or 1/100 of a mL. –Longer lines represent the 0.1-mL (or 1/10-mL) marks.

8. Reading a Tuberculin Syringe Tuberculin Syringe.

9. Reading an Insulin Syringe Insulin is a medication used as a substitute for the missing hormone. It is available as 100 units (U) per milliliter (mL) of solution. Different sizes of insulin syringes are used, depending on the dosage of insulin the patient requires. Insulin syringes are used only for measuring insulin because they are calibrated in units (U).

10. Reading an Insulin Syringe Both 30-U and 50-U syringes are calibrated in units. Each line indicates 1 U. The 100-U syringe is used for larger amounts of insulin. Each line indicates 2 U. Example: A 100-U syringe is filled to the second line past the 70-U mark. What is the reading?

11. Reading an Insulin Syringe –It is read as 70 + 2 + 2 = 74 U.

12. Practical Problem Using the insulin syringe shown here, if it is filled to the third line past the 35 mark, what is the dosage? [COMP: pick up the second syringe on p. 236 (with lines marked 5 through 50)]

13. Practical Problem Each line represents 1 U: 35 + 1 + 1 + 1 U = 38 U The dosage is 38 U.