Prodiver
Top Contributor
Injectable AAS come in two sorts of sterile containers: ampoules and phials (or vials).
Ampoules
Ampoules are intended for single injection use: once opened the contents must be used immediately or discarded.
Ampoules are opened by snapping off the top at the neck.
Some ampoules have a coloured dot to show the neck's weakest point: with the dot towards you snap the top backwards.
Ampoules without dots are best opened using an "amp snapper":
Sometimes a bic pen top may be used.
For stubborn ampoules score a groove all the way round the neck with a needle file before snapping.
Swab clean all ampoules' necks with antiseptic and allow them to dry before snapping.
Wrap the ampoule and top - not the neck - in clean tissue to protect your fingers in case they shatter.
Do not touch or contaminate the opening. Draw up immediately.
To draw up, hold the ampoule at an angle, insert a hypodermic needle and draw the contents into the syringe.
Empty ampoules may be safely discarded in the normal rubbish.
Some injectables, such as HCG, come in two ampoules as solvent and powder for reconstituting:
After opening both ampoules, draw up the solvent, inject it into the powder, swirl it gently until dissolved, draw up and inject as directed.
Phials (or Vials)
Phials are intended for multi-injection use.
The rubber stopper is held on with a metal crimp and topped with a throw-away metal or plastic seal.
To use, remove and discard just the metal or plastic seal but leave the crimp and stopper in place.
Swab the rubber stopper with antiseptic and let it dry immediately before drawing up the desired dose.
To draw up, draw the same amount of air as the desired dose into the syringe, push the hypodermic needle cleanly through the centre of the rubber stopper, inject the air, invert the phial and draw the desired dose into the syringe.
When filling one syringe with more than one type of AAS, be careful not to cross-contaminate one phial with any AAS already in the syringe.
When the needle is pulled out the rubber stopper will seal itself.
AAS in multi-use phials contain non-toxic antiseptic preservatives to destroy any pathogens in the air injected during drawing up.
Keep partially empty phials upright in a safe place.
Empty phials may be safely discarded in the normal rubbish.
Syringes "Barrels"
Nowadays syringes are available with hypodermic needles already fitted, with one-use-only latches and with safety sheath systems which cover the needle as it is withdrawn.
For intramuscular injection most AAS users find these unnecessarily complex and expensive and use widely-available conventional syringes and needles.
For normal intramuscular injection two types of syringes are available:
Standard, on which normal needles are a push fit:
and Luer Lock, onto which normal needles can be locked by twisting:
Luer lock syringes are less common and slightly more expensive than the standard type, but are preferred by some as the needle will not pop off under pressure.
Typical syringe sizes for intramuscular injection of AAS are 2, 3 and 5 ml (millilitres).
It is easier to expel liquids like AAS through needles from smaller diameter syringes.
Normal used syringes may be safely disposed of in the ordinary rubbish.
For SubQ (subcutaneous) injections standard syringes and needles can be used, but usually Insulin Syringes with built-in fine gauge needles are preferred:
Standard U-100 insulin syringes are marked in Units, not ml.
100 units of standard insulin = 1 ml.
Used insulin syringes with attached needles should be disposed of in a sharps bin.
Hypodermic Needles "Pins" "Sharps"
Modern high-quality hypodermic needles have facet-cut chamfered points so they are extremely sharp to minimise pain.
The least pain and trauma are caused by sliding the needle relatively slowly through the skin and muscle to the correct depth and not stabbing.
Modern chamfered needles do not blunt quickly and can withstand two clean passes through rubber vial tops without appreciable blunting, but they are cheap enough and should be discarded if blunting is suspected.
Modern needles are made of tempered surgical stainless steel and are very difficult to break.
Needles are defined by gauge (thickness) and length.
Most gauges are available in several lengths.
Gauge
The finer (thinner) the needle the smaller the injection wound and the less the scar tissue caused. The finer the needle the more difficult it is to push thicker, oil-based medications through.
The bigger the gauge number the thinner the needle.
The needle fitting which attaches to the syringe is colour-coded to denote its gauge.
The colour code does not denote length.
Commonly available gauges:
Green = 21 gauge (0.813 mm)
Blue = 23 gauge (0.711 mm)
Orange = 25 gauge (0.508 mm)
The thicker green needles are commonly used for drawing-up; and for injection by some experienced users.
Blue needles are commonly used to inject; some also use them for drawing-up.
Orange needles are mostly used for injecting: drawing up thick AAS through orange needles is difficult if not impossible.
Length
Green blue and orange needles are available in several lengths from 5/8 to 2 inches (~15 - 50 mm).
It is regarded by some medics as good practice not to push a needle all the way in until the fitting touches the skin.
Intramuscular injection is given about 1 inch into all muscles, so 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 inch needles are generally used.
Intramuscular injection is usually perpendicular to the skin - upright; thin muscles may be injected at an angle of about 45º.
If the injection is too shallow the AAS may leak out or disperse under the skin which affects its absorption rate.
If the injection is too deep contact with bone or lymphatic vessels can occur which can prove painful.
NEEDLE DISPOSAL
Used needles are a biological and physical injury hazard.
HYPODERMIC NEEDLES AND INSULIN SYRINGES MUST NOT BE DISCARDED IN THE ORDINARY RUBBISH BUT IN A SHARPS DISPOSAL BIN FOR INCINERATION.
Sharps disposal bins are available from needle exchanges, pharmacies and medical equipment suppliers.
Needle exchanges will accept full bins free of charge for disposal, also some pharmacies, hospitals, walk-in centres and surgeries; other places may make a small charge.
Ampoules
Ampoules are intended for single injection use: once opened the contents must be used immediately or discarded.
Ampoules are opened by snapping off the top at the neck.
Some ampoules have a coloured dot to show the neck's weakest point: with the dot towards you snap the top backwards.
Ampoules without dots are best opened using an "amp snapper":
Sometimes a bic pen top may be used.
For stubborn ampoules score a groove all the way round the neck with a needle file before snapping.
Swab clean all ampoules' necks with antiseptic and allow them to dry before snapping.
Wrap the ampoule and top - not the neck - in clean tissue to protect your fingers in case they shatter.
Do not touch or contaminate the opening. Draw up immediately.
To draw up, hold the ampoule at an angle, insert a hypodermic needle and draw the contents into the syringe.
Empty ampoules may be safely discarded in the normal rubbish.
Some injectables, such as HCG, come in two ampoules as solvent and powder for reconstituting:
After opening both ampoules, draw up the solvent, inject it into the powder, swirl it gently until dissolved, draw up and inject as directed.
Phials (or Vials)
Phials are intended for multi-injection use.
The rubber stopper is held on with a metal crimp and topped with a throw-away metal or plastic seal.
To use, remove and discard just the metal or plastic seal but leave the crimp and stopper in place.
Swab the rubber stopper with antiseptic and let it dry immediately before drawing up the desired dose.
To draw up, draw the same amount of air as the desired dose into the syringe, push the hypodermic needle cleanly through the centre of the rubber stopper, inject the air, invert the phial and draw the desired dose into the syringe.
When filling one syringe with more than one type of AAS, be careful not to cross-contaminate one phial with any AAS already in the syringe.
When the needle is pulled out the rubber stopper will seal itself.
AAS in multi-use phials contain non-toxic antiseptic preservatives to destroy any pathogens in the air injected during drawing up.
Keep partially empty phials upright in a safe place.
Empty phials may be safely discarded in the normal rubbish.
Syringes "Barrels"
Nowadays syringes are available with hypodermic needles already fitted, with one-use-only latches and with safety sheath systems which cover the needle as it is withdrawn.
For intramuscular injection most AAS users find these unnecessarily complex and expensive and use widely-available conventional syringes and needles.
For normal intramuscular injection two types of syringes are available:
Standard, on which normal needles are a push fit:
and Luer Lock, onto which normal needles can be locked by twisting:
Luer lock syringes are less common and slightly more expensive than the standard type, but are preferred by some as the needle will not pop off under pressure.
Typical syringe sizes for intramuscular injection of AAS are 2, 3 and 5 ml (millilitres).
It is easier to expel liquids like AAS through needles from smaller diameter syringes.
Normal used syringes may be safely disposed of in the ordinary rubbish.
For SubQ (subcutaneous) injections standard syringes and needles can be used, but usually Insulin Syringes with built-in fine gauge needles are preferred:
Standard U-100 insulin syringes are marked in Units, not ml.
100 units of standard insulin = 1 ml.
Used insulin syringes with attached needles should be disposed of in a sharps bin.
Hypodermic Needles "Pins" "Sharps"
Modern high-quality hypodermic needles have facet-cut chamfered points so they are extremely sharp to minimise pain.
The least pain and trauma are caused by sliding the needle relatively slowly through the skin and muscle to the correct depth and not stabbing.
Modern chamfered needles do not blunt quickly and can withstand two clean passes through rubber vial tops without appreciable blunting, but they are cheap enough and should be discarded if blunting is suspected.
Modern needles are made of tempered surgical stainless steel and are very difficult to break.
Needles are defined by gauge (thickness) and length.
Most gauges are available in several lengths.
Gauge
The finer (thinner) the needle the smaller the injection wound and the less the scar tissue caused. The finer the needle the more difficult it is to push thicker, oil-based medications through.
The bigger the gauge number the thinner the needle.
The needle fitting which attaches to the syringe is colour-coded to denote its gauge.
The colour code does not denote length.
Commonly available gauges:
Green = 21 gauge (0.813 mm)
Blue = 23 gauge (0.711 mm)
Orange = 25 gauge (0.508 mm)
The thicker green needles are commonly used for drawing-up; and for injection by some experienced users.
Blue needles are commonly used to inject; some also use them for drawing-up.
Orange needles are mostly used for injecting: drawing up thick AAS through orange needles is difficult if not impossible.
Length
Green blue and orange needles are available in several lengths from 5/8 to 2 inches (~15 - 50 mm).
It is regarded by some medics as good practice not to push a needle all the way in until the fitting touches the skin.
Intramuscular injection is given about 1 inch into all muscles, so 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 inch needles are generally used.
Intramuscular injection is usually perpendicular to the skin - upright; thin muscles may be injected at an angle of about 45º.
If the injection is too shallow the AAS may leak out or disperse under the skin which affects its absorption rate.
If the injection is too deep contact with bone or lymphatic vessels can occur which can prove painful.
NEEDLE DISPOSAL
Used needles are a biological and physical injury hazard.
HYPODERMIC NEEDLES AND INSULIN SYRINGES MUST NOT BE DISCARDED IN THE ORDINARY RUBBISH BUT IN A SHARPS DISPOSAL BIN FOR INCINERATION.
Sharps disposal bins are available from needle exchanges, pharmacies and medical equipment suppliers.
Needle exchanges will accept full bins free of charge for disposal, also some pharmacies, hospitals, walk-in centres and surgeries; other places may make a small charge.
