Can you get defective syringes?

[Carey & Kopie]

I noticed that Kopie’s numbers have been going up when he was in blues and greens. Nothing has changed as far as food etc. While filling a syringe I noticed that it looked like air in the syringe. I pushed the plunger and no insulin came out until I reached the 1 unit mark. I had to then put more insulin in and check again. I am careful not to put air into the pen. I push the plunger in, hold it, put the needle into the sponge on the pen then draw back. I am now wasting a lot of insulin because I keep checking for air. I use ReliOn syringes, 3/10 ml cc, 29 gauge, 12.7 mm length. Anyone ever have this problem?

 

[Sylvie]

yup. haven't had any with the two brands i am currently using for my cat but, have had bad syringes that i use for making eliquid over the years quite a bit. the plungers are not making a tight seal is why i think and it sucks up air somehow and i end up with .1ml less than what i want quite a bit.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

I use the Relion syringes also and it seems like this box is the best and most accurate I have had. I do use calipers to double check that the markings are accurate and so far they have been.

Have you seen the video on drawing insulin from a pen? If not, it might help you a lot with the technique; there were some good tips in it and things I wasn't doing at first.

Scroll down for the video:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...insulin-info-handling-drawing-fine-doses.151/

 

[Squalliesmom]

I have a terrible time with Relion syringes! I've gotten boxes where I've had to throw away half the syringes because the plunger stoppers were malformed. I switched to another brand (BD, and of course, they are almost twice as expensive!) and I've had no problems.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I use Monoject syringes. They have a unique feel to them with softer tabs under the plunger.
I have worked in manufacturing and to some degree quality control. Try and picture a plastic tube a mile long and rubber O-rings that may or may not have been stored at the incorrect temperature and humidity and you'll understand how helpless we are to change things. If, and this is a big if, we do only a sub-q injection a tiny bubble of air will not kill your cat. For years I have always flicked the syringe like a TV doctor to make myself feel better.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

My current supply of strips has a lot of duds in it and changing the battery did not help. The pharmacist always gives me that same stupid blank stare because it's "just a cat".

 

[cjleo]

Try CarePoint Vet from ADW. I've switched from Relion to these syringes and find their quality control is much better than Relion. I would love to use BD, but the price even with my human prescription is prohibitive. My staple is now the CarePoint Vet. I don't use many for me, as I'm on a pump. But they work fine for my 3 diabetics and as a back up for me (shhush)!

 

[Carey & Kopie]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. This is the first box that I’ve had a problem with but I narrowed down that his numbers are higher since I’ve opened a new box. I’m going to call ReliOn Monday morning and see what they say. Depending on their reaction, I may switch brands. If they are helpful and offer to replace them, I’ll try them again. I’m glad to hear that others have had problems too. Now I’m even more sure that it’s just the syringes.