Different Syringe Units?

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hbs60

hbs60

Active Member
Hello,
I have been using U-40 syringes labeld 3/10cc, it is marked 1, 2, 3, through 12 units. I was running low and went to the vet to get more, I'm now home and they look different, they are labeled 1/2 cc, they are U-40, but they are marked 5, 10, 15, 20 units (with 5 submarks per unit) and they look decidedly bigger. I'm nervous about using these syringes as they don't look right. Should I assume that each submark is the same as the units on the smaller syringes? How should I convert these?
Help!
Thanks!
 
The 1/3 and 1/2 cc are the total capacity of the syringe, which is why the new one looks bigger. As long as they are both U40's, then a unit is a unit in each of them. Each line on the new ones equals one u40 unit. You can just fit more units in the 1/2 cc ones.
carl
 
Hey -

It may be that you have a different brand, or just a different size. As long as they are marked u40, you should be good.

I had been using larger needles that the vet provided: Ulticare Vet Rx brand, U40, 1cc 29 gauge x 1/2". Interestingly, the box is labeled 'High Dose" (just noticed this!)

Because i'm doing "mini doses" of less that 1/2 unit, I've converted to the u100 needles - THESE ALSO REQUIRE USING THE CONVERSION CHART FOR QUANTITY OF DOSING. The first pack had lines for 1 unit, and were labeled 5, 10,.... After reading a thread on this board regarding needles w/ 1/2-unit markings, I went to WalMart and purchased ($2) one package of their ReliOn brand. They too have lines for 1 unit, are labeled 5, 10, ... but they have 1/2 unit markings as well. This is extremely helpful for older eyes. So the markings on these u100 bags are as follows:
BD 3/10 cc capacity, 30 G and 1/2" needle.
ReliOn 3/10 cc, 31 G and 5/16" needle.

Jury is still out on the needle length and gauge, but the U100 needles are helpful for me. One thing you need to do, should you decide to try the other - KEEP THEM SEPARATE. The U40s are supposed to have red caps; the U100s are orange. I think this is standard, but make sure. It's also labeled on each needle what type insulin they are for.

It appears you just got the larger dose needles like I started out with. Depending on your dose, I would expect they would work fine.

Lu-Ann
 
Thanks!

I don't think the needles are different (I'm at work now so I need to double check when I get home), but the syringes are the ones that look very different. After thinking it through, the numbers do add up: U40 means 40 units per CC, so a 1/2 cc syringe should hold 20 units, while a 3/10 cc units (0.3cc) would hold 12 units 40 x 0.3 = 12, so, if my thinking is correct, we should be fine.
 
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