What type of needle do you use when drawing up from glass ampoules

LobotRN, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

My Uncle works for the FDA. His response is cost re: glass ampules. Medications that are single use and that can be batch created and group sterilized, thus low cost production. And the glass ampules are impervious, so longer shelf life. This works well for meds that can be heat sterilized without damaging the medication, and also no individual sterilizing agent added to the liquid.

Compare to rubber stoppers which have to be individually sealed w/ a topper and the capping equip it takes for that = higher cost. These are used for those meds (by and large) that can not be pasteurized.

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

jamsandwich2015 said:
As in filtered/non filtered and what gauge? What is your trust's policy?

A 5 micron filter needle or filter straw should be used when drawing out of a glass ampule. Glass ampules do allow for a longer shelf life, and are appropriate for medications which should not be 'housed' in plastic. Remember that your lungs act as a filter for these glass particles, and before nurses knew the importance of using a filter needle/straw to draw up their medications, patient's were developing granulomas in the lungs when the body attempts to wall off this glass invader. Also, remember that particles as large as 300 microns can pass through a 18 gauge IV catheter. ( The 'usual' largest allowable size to pass through the small capillaries in the lungs is 5-12 microns )

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

Filtered but I don't know the gauge. The filters only come in one size at my facility. The other facility uses a straw. I don't think drawing up the gauge matters since you should be switching the needle out.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

AcuteHD said:
Why do glass ampules even exist??

Because nurses can't try to trick the system with them. To get the med, you break them. There is no way around it. It is more useful in EMS kind of. We switch between ampules and vials for fentanyl. There is actually a carpujet syringe/vial/whatever it is called for fentanyl at one of my facilities.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Oct 26, 2015

ALWAYS use a filter needle when drawing meds from a glass ampule. Not sure of the gauge but it should say "filter needle" on the package.

NurseStorm, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

Filter needle, 18 gauge and I believe it's 1 1/2 inch. It's at least 1 inch but I think longer? (as others have said, only one, so I don't pay as much attention to the length). For non glass ampules we use 18 gauge blunt, also same length as the filter.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

19ga 1 1/2 inch filter needle in a brown package at my previous hospital. (Filter straw at my current hospital.)

Crack ampule neck using unopened alcohol pad for protection, draw up med using filter device, switch out to blunt cannula to keep end of syringe sterile. Remove cannula for needleless injection into IV port.

What happened to OP? Did you get question answered?

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

Definitely a filter needle... and I hate glass ampules. I find them tedious.

sugarwahine10 · Oct 26, 2015

Filter needle & I don't know what the gauge is, but they keep them by our accudose so we can grab one when get med from it.

NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2015

applesxoranges said:
Because nurses can't try to trick the system with them. To get the med, you break them. There is no way around it. It is more useful in EMS kind of. We switch between ampules and vials for fentanyl. There is actually a carpujet syringe/vial/whatever it is called for fentanyl at one of my facilities.

I'm not a fan of glass ampules, but carpujects are vile. You can't easily see to express bubbles before injection and you can't dilute the med (mmm, straight Dilaudid).

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2015

One brand of Lidocaine I use has plastic bands wrapped around the breaking point so the nurse is not inured. I never liked using a wet alcohol pad and and with a 2x 2 I often did not get a good grip so I cut a small piece of a not too wide tourniquet and used that.

ambr46 · Oct 27, 2015

Filter needle but I also hate glass ampules. I cringe everytime I have to open one because I have cut my finger twice when the glass broke unevenly. I have also had one or two roll of my cart and break and had to hassle with getting a witness etc.