How Waste Space Impacts Vaccine / Drug Supply

In traditional needles and syringes, the waste space volume results from residual medication typically remaining in the syringe tip, needle hub and cannula after the injection is complete. Many medical devices have a standard Luer connection, which allows for compatibility with other devices, such as needles, syringes and valves.  But with the Luer design comes added waste space volume.

The BD Integra™ Syringe has a specially designed needle hub and syringe thread called Tru-Lok.  This unique design reduces the amount of wastespace volume typically found in devices with a Luer design.*

All needles and syringes have waste space and to compensate for this waste space, vaccine manufacturers routinely over-fill medication vials.¹  The BD Integra™ Syringe allows clinicians to utilize a greater proportion of the over-filling for actual medication dosing. These extra doses can greatly reduce costs and stretch a greater number of  vaccinations from existing vaccine supply.*             

The BD Integra™ Syringe has up to 86% less waste space volume    

BD Conventional 3 mL Syringe .092 mL

BD Integra™ 3 mL Syringe 0.026 mL

Brand A Retracting 3 mL Syringe 0.185 mL

Note: Red area represents waste space volume

BD Integra™ Syringe Literature and Ordering Information

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* Data on file
¹ US Pharmacopeia Formulary 2004