Parenteral handling precaution: particulate introduction resulting from needle sheath contamination

The purpose of this in vitro experiment was to determine if inadvertent needle cap nicking would introduce particulate contamination. After a preliminary observation (n = 21), a more thorough confirmatory experiment (n = 28) was performed. Twenty-four of 28 needles were contaminated before, and 18 of 28 needles after, entry into a Latex injection port; 5 of these 18 needles remained contaminated post sterile water injection and withdrawal from the port. Since 19 of 24 contaminated needles lost their contamination within the simulated injection system, it was proposed that inadvertent needle cap particulate contamination to needle shafts may be introduced into in vivo tissue or delivered intravascularly.