I was in a test laboratory for some project research. While witnessing the tests being performed, I noticed a peculiar way of using syringes.
The person took blood samples from the syringe and then burnt it on some equipment that was placed on the adjacent table. Ofcourse this was perfectly fine to destroy the needle after usage. Though during peak hours when there are lot of patients waiting to get their tests done, it happened that the used syringe was kept on the table without getting burned. Don’t you think this few seconds time saving may turn to a hazard for the person or patients even? YES and we call it Needle Stick Injury - defined as the accidental puncture of the skin by a needle during a medical intervention
Accidental exposure to blood caused by needle injuries may carry the risk of infection by blood-borne viruses.
Accidental contact may occur-
· During re-capping
· When an uncapped needle has ended up in bed linen, surgery clothing etc
· When taking an unsheathed used needle to the waste container
· During the cleaning up and transporting of waste material
I was reading on internet ways to avoid this injury and found that “the single most important measure to prevent needlestick injury is to not put the used needle back in its original cover; re-capping and re-sheathing must be avoided. Instead at most of the places, rigid puncture-proof containers are being used. Make sure the container is always at hand”
Well OK, these containers are effectively doing their work since many years.
- But what if the containers are not available at hand?
- What if there are multiple rooms in a testing lab and only few containers are available?
- What if person is too busy to throw the needle in the container placed at a distance?
- And what about the investment in installing these containers in every testing rooms?
- There are so many ifs and buts and we know that ‘no-error places’ where HACCP is being followed are not everywhere.
Got to know about this product which is actually a label and thus is in integral part of the syringe itself – Needle Trap
This is an innovative product which is cost effective alternative for pre-filled syringes, which helps protect healthcare professionals from needlestick injuries
This is unique since the safety mechanism is an integral component of the label. No external containers, no table top equipment required for destroying the needles.
As a packaging technologist, we may think that the production of such syringes with label is a difficult task and may involve huge investment in new machinery. But actually this is not required. The product may be easily integrated in the existing process and is adaptable to all standard syringe dimensions. This gives a significant cost reduction due to simple design compared with conventional needle protection systems
Product details at - http://www.packagingconnections.com/schreiner/
This is widely used in European pharma companies but the technology is still in nascent stages in developing countries
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