Two different needle sizes for injections - why

[carer999]

Why do people use two different needles sizes for B12 injections. I can understand the use of a smaller needle 23g (blue) for the actual injection but why use a 21g (green) for the drawing up of the serum and not a 23g (blue) and then change to a new one ensure you haven't blunted the end against the glass.

[Polaris]

I used the green needle to draw up the B12 when I started to inject subcut with half inch brown needle but now draw up carefully and inject I.M. with the same 23g. 1" blue needle.

[deniseinmilden]

No major reason for B12 that I'm aware of - it's just another "one size fits all" protocol to make teaching easier - drawing up is easier with a bigger needle, especially if you have more viscous liquids such as oil based antibiotics to administer.

Using injection needles finer than 23G are, in the same way, not recommended for safety reasons as they are easier to bend or break, especially with liquids more viscous than the B12 solution.

However when I found that a range of finer ones are available from Exchange Supplies and I chose, also against protocol, to use 26G ones for my jabs, I used up my 23G ones as draw up needles and they were fine (forgive the pun)!

From now on I will use my brown 26G x 1" ones for drawing up as well but will, like you say, swap to a new needle for the injection coz not using a blunted one makes a huge difference!! 😁

[Miss-guineapig]

I use blue by choice, the green is too long and thick and can be painful. I am a nurse and would very rarely use green on a patient incase I hurt them, although some meds and patients need green. Blue is fine for subcutaneous Irene intramuscular for misr people I'd say. I draw up with a green at times as it's longer. Wee tip...Always use one needle for drawing up and then change to administer. As a needle can get blunt if it hits the glass at the bottom of ampule or vial.x

[hellmice1]

I use the red filter needles to draw up and a blue to inject.

I was taught to self inject in the hospital after I asked and was given needles etc and have just carried on using the same ones.

Only allowed 4 ampoules from the hospital and had 5 from the gp and self inject now by buying my own.