Needle sticks are unfortunately nothing new in our Center. This blog entry will be to talk about how to safely use syringes and needles in our lab, so that we will avoid injuries in the future. All needle pricks in our lab must be reported. If you are injured during business hours, please see Sarah or Carole.
REPORT INJURIES
VOLUNTEERS/NONPAID STUDENTS:
- For emergency situations dial 911, preferably from a landline.
- For non-emergency situations call 480-965-7700
- For after-hours medical advice call 480-965-3349
- If no insurance contact ASU insurance services 480-727-9669 or email insuranceservices@asu.edu
EVERYONE ELSE:
- For emergency situations dial 911, preferably from a landline.
- For non-emergency situations call CorVel, the State of Arizona Workers’ Compensation, at 800-685-2877 to report the injury to a triage registered nurse. The nurse will:
- Focus on early intervention and your immediate needs
- Connect you with the appropriate level of care
- Schedule a referral for further intervention
- Follow up with you the next day to see how you are doing.
ALL:
- Work with your supervisor to complete the injury packet: https://www.asu.edu/hr/forms/wcformspacket.pdf
- The packet includes the worker’s injury report, the supervisor’s incident report, and release to return to work form.
- Submit an online form: https://cfo.asu.edu/webform/employee-and-non-employee-incident-report
- FOR SHARPS INJURIES: https://cfo.asu.edu/webform/ehs-sharps-injury-log
- FOR SHARPS INJURIES: Follow this guide for sharps injury first aid: https://cfo.asu.edu/needlestick-and-sharps
Needles and Syringes
Our Center generally uses 2 types of needles. We have luer-lock needles that are separate from the syringe and we have needles that are permanently attached to the syringe base. Typically the permanently attached needle/syringe combos are gas tight glass syringes used for solvent and sample injections into the GC-FID/GC-MS for sample analysis. Other commonly used applications for needles are taking liquid samples from microcosm bottles for analysis. This usage of needle is the most often cause of injury.
Types of syringes:
Frictionless Syringes
These are glass syringes with glass plungers. The connections are luer lock, which means that a separate needle is screwed or pressed onto the end of the syringe. Typically frictionless syringes are used to measure gas buildup in sealed culture containers such as microcosm bottles. This gas that is measured is a by-product of microbial activity. To remove needle hold needle sharp end away from body and hands, hold base of needle firmly and twist off syringe. Needle can then be placed in a sharps container.
Autosampler Syringes
Are installed in the autosampler of various instruments. The autosampler does all sampling and injections and at no point should the user come in contact with the syringe or needle during use. To remove bent or damaged autosampler needles, instructions are outlined in specific instrument SOPs and user manuals.
Gas Tight Syringes
Typically syringes are glass with PTFE plungers. These syringes can be luer lock with removable needles or cemented with needles that cannot be removed. Non-removable needles should be rinsed thoroughly with appropriate solvent between samples. Typically 3 rinses of solvent should remove sample particles. Solvent rinse should be disposed of in appropriate waste container and work should be done in the chemical fume hood. Removable needles can also be rinsed in the same way if the needle is not removed between samples. To remove needle hold needle sharp end away from body and hands, hold base of needle firmly and twist off syringe. Needle can then be placed in a sharps container.
Disposable Luer Lock Syringes
These syringes are sterile syringes, individually packaged. They have luer lock bases and use removable needles. They are used primarily to inject nutrients into microcosm bottles through a septum and pull samples from sealed containers through a septum (to maintain anaerobic conditions). Needles should be attached to the syringe while needle is still inside plastic sheath. Once needle has been secured to the syringe, the sheath can be pulled away exposing the needle. Needles should not be removed from disposable syringes. When work is complete, the whole syringe with attached needle should be placed into an appropriate sharps container.
Removing Needles from non-disposable syringes:
- Never recap a needle! Never remove a needle from a disposable syringe!
- Hold syringe and sharp end of needle away from the body.
- Keeps hands clear of sharp end of needle.
- With one hand on the syringe, firmly grasp the base of the needle with your other hand at the connection point and twist to remove.
- Dispose of needle immediately in sharps container. Do not set down needle on bench.
When Recapping Cannot be Avoided:
- Scoop Method: Place cap on bench. With one hand, scoop up the lid with the sharp end of the needle. Once cap in on needle, from the side of the cap, push and secure cap.
- Assisted Stand Method: Place cap in Styrofoam rack with open side facing up. With one hand push syringe-needle into cap and secure.
Puncturing Septum with Needles
- Microcosm bottles usually need to be flipped upside down for the needle to reach the liquid. Keep hands clear of the lid and neck of the bottle and carefully insert needle.
- When pulling needle out of microcosm bottle, hold base of bottle and keep hand clear of top of bottle. Pull slowly to remove needle.
- When sampling or injecting into micro volume vials (such as GC vials), place vials in vial rack and do not hold with hands or fingers.
General Safety Guidelines:
*NEVER put needles, even capped ones, in lab coat pockets! NO SHARPS OF ANY KIND IN POCKETS!!
*Always transport needles in their case, or in the Styrofoam container they were originally packaged in.