Estimation of cost savings from reprocessing of plastic syringes. A case analysis

Analysis of the cost of reprocessing plastic syringes in a hospital sterilization unit is considered. A simple model to estimate the cost of reprocessed syringes, showed that a syringe that had been reprocessed once was 29.8% cheaper than a new one. Reprocessing each of the 21,000 plastic syringes that are reprocessed in this unit per month once, realises savings in the order of KSh37,590 (US$ 1600). Although this unit reprocesses syringes about 10 times before disposal, the largest savings per reprocessing cycle occurred during the first 5 cycles. The cost of a reprocessed syringe does not reach its asymptotic value until after about 1,000 cycles.