almost-free portable syringe cleaning kit

[Eddy]

I recently started reusing syringes. Although insulin preparations contain antibacterial agents, I still prefer to disinfect the needle and syringe before reuse. Pouring alcohol is messy and cumbersome.

Solution? The almost-free portable syringe cleaning kit!

Materials:


91% isopropanol (the "good" rubbing alcohol);
A few 3 cc syringes; $0.05 "person off the street" price at my local pharmacy/chemist.


Note: Working with big syringes causes big pressure changes. During the procedure, regularly take a syringe, remove the plunger, and insert it into the vial. This will equalize the pressure between vial and atmosphere.

Take a virtually-empty insulin vial. If you only have a non-empty vial of expired insulin, use a 3 cc syringe ("big syringe #1" or "BS1") to pump out 300U at a time; finish draining the vial using a typical syringe. Discard BS1.

Use another big syringe ("BS2") to create a vacuum inside the vial. "Pressure wash" the vial's interior by filling BS2 with alcohol, spraying the bejabbers out of the vial's interior, and drawing the alcohol back into the syringe. Repeat.

Drain the vial of the alcohol from the previous paragraph. Using clean alcohol, pressure wash the vial again. Repeat until you are satisfied that the vial is uncontaminated.

Take a clean big syringe ("BS3"). Use it to fill the vial with clean alcohol.

You now have a vial full of rubbing alcohol. When you want to clean a syringe and needle, you know what to do! :)

Note also that vial labels are easily removed by using rubbing alcohol on the exterior.

[David_S]

Have you thought of getting an insulin pen? I am so glad I have a pen.. It seems you have the syringe thing down.. but that would not travel well.. it seems like a lot of added work. Do you perfer it?

[Eddy]

Have you thought of getting an insulin pen? I am so glad I have a pen.. It seems you have the syringe thing down.. but that would not travel well.. it seems like a lot of added work. Do you perfer it?


I sometimes mix two or three insulins for my boluses. I also [do my best to] measure more precisely than half-unit -- let alone full-unit -- granularity affords.

Yes, I've consciously selected syringes as the least of the evils.

[parrotletzoo]

that's kind of a bad idea. I'd hate to inject alcohol instead of insulin because I mixed the two up.

syringes aren't expensive. and store brand ones are even cheaper. buy some new ones.

that being said, I've reused syringes many times and never sterilized them. I've survived with nary an infection for 28years....

[Eddy]

that's kind of a bad idea. I'd hate to inject alcohol instead of insulin because I mixed the two up.


No mixing them up. The alcohol vial lacks label, and is the most distinct of all.


syringes aren't expensive. and store brand ones are even cheaper. buy some new ones.


A couple dollars each day adds up. Reusing syringes, keeping insulin more than 28 days after opening, cracking BP pills in half (instead of using smaller pills), reusing lancets, et cetera -- all saves a few hundred dollars each month.


that being said, I've reused syringes many times and never sterilized them. I've survived with nary an infection for 28years....


How long does a vial of insulin typically last you? I'm also concerned about bacteria contaminating and ruining insulin...

[parrotletzoo]

I've always used a vial of insulin until it was gone. I've never noticed a lack of potency or had any issues with discoloration or clouding which would indicate a problem with bacteria. I typically used a bottle up in around 6 weeks.

After I had my islet transplant I kept the insulin vial I had opened. its been two years. It's still clear. Of course I wouldn't use it now but it still looks normal.

I used to use syringes until they were dull and that includes injecting through clothing. I'm not sure the alcohol is all that important but if it makes you more comfortable by all means do what you need to do.

[Eddy]

I've always used a vial of insulin until it was gone. I've never noticed a lack of potency or had any issues with discoloration or clouding which would indicate a problem with bacteria. I typically used a bottle up in around 6 weeks.


So far, a six-week old vial has always worked. After eight, potency and activity get a bit wonky. I've not used one past ten weeks, and almost always have significant waste. (BlueSky suggested that I switch to 3 mL cartridges to reduce waste. I'll have to look into that.)


I used to use syringes until they were dull and that includes injecting through clothing. I'm not sure the alcohol is all that important but if it makes you more comfortable by all means do what you need to do.


Definitely good to know. It certainly would be less hassle not to clean syringes... but... for now, I'll stick with cleaning them. In another year, who knows. ;)