follow up a small air bubble subcutaneously is not dangerous. it costs you dose accuracy, thats the reason to clear it, still working it out
#injection-technique 2026-03-30
Monday34 messages7 participantstimes are UTC
Highlights from this day
- endotoxin_ed — the thing people are frightened of is an air embolism, and that is an IV problem at volumes you could not fit in a u100 barrel 21:33
- endotoxin_ed — a bubble taking up two units of barrel means you drew two units less drug than you think you did 21:42
- endotoxin_ed — the separate draw-up pin idea comes from coring. a 31G through a stopper forty times will blunt and can shed rubber 21:55
- fridge_thermo — and if you use a big draw-up pin you have to transfer to an injecting pin, which is where hub dead space eats you 22:05
- endotoxin_ed — same principle as the bubble. anything sitting in the syringe that does not go into you is a dose you did not take 22:06
i keep the sharps bin next to the fridge so the whole thing happens in one place
is a small air bubble in the barrel a problem subcutaneously
do you change the pin between drawing up and injecting
welts at the site are usually a mild local reaction and rotation sorts it
31G 8mm for everything. i tried the 12.7mm once and never went back
let the alcohol dry. that is ninety percent of "my injections sting"
[edited]update from 23 months ago: switched to a fixed rotation and the site reactions stopped
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there is a bubble in my syringe and i am not injecting until somebody tells me it is fine
it is fine
this is subq. a small air bubble under the skin does nothing
the thing people are frightened of is an air embolism, and that is an IV problem at volumes you could not fit in a u100 barrel
so ignore it
ignore it for safety. do not ignore it for dosing
a bubble taking up two units of barrel means you drew two units less drug than you think you did
ohh
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tap it up to the hub, push it out, redraw. ten seconds
flick with a fingernail, do not slap the barrel about
what gauge is everyone on
rough shape of it
| Pin | Length | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 29G | 12.7 mm | older insulin syringes, works, longer than you need |
| 30G | 8 mm | the common all-rounder |
| 31G | 8 mm | least felt, slowest to draw |
| 31G | 6 mm | fine on the abdomen, awkward on the thigh |
| 18-21G | — | draw-up only, never inject with it |
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the separate draw-up pin idea comes from coring. a 31G through a stopper forty times will blunt and can shed rubber
i have never cored a stopper with insulin syringes, but i also finish a vial in a few weeks
and if you use a big draw-up pin you have to transfer to an injecting pin, which is where hub dead space eats you
same principle as the bubble. anything sitting in the syringe that does not go into you is a dose you did not take
so one insulin syringe per shot, through the stopper once
yes. that is the entire technique
and do not reuse the pin. blunt pins hurt and they bruise
i was about to ask that
you can feel the difference on the second use. it is not subtle
sharps — do i just bin them
no. a proper sharps container, and most pharmacies here will take a full one back
varies by country. #uk-ireland and #canada both have the local answer written up
got it, thanks
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90 degrees works fine if you have the tissue for it. 45 if you do not