Filter needle for ampule?

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 06:04 PM

Do I need one? I read someplace you do.

**Big** · 05-30-2008, 06:08 PM

I'm not sure I follow the question.

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Big

I'm not sure I follow the question.

I've read that when you are drawing from a glass ampule you are supposed to use a filter needle to filter any glass particles that might be there from breaking the glass ampule.

They sell these needles that have 5 micron filters built into the hub just for this purpose. I'm trying to see if most people agree that they're a good idea. I looked them up and you can get them for $3/10 + shipping.

**ZEUS3** · 05-30-2008, 07:07 PM

myth design is everthing well doctors use no filters

**Big** · 05-30-2008, 07:11 PM

Oh, I see. I have used amps many times without a filter and without issue, imagine how small a piece of glass would have to be to pass through the needle while drawing.

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 07:12 PM

For your perusal:

Article Excerpt
The use of filter needles is not often considered when discussing medication preparation from glass ampules. Fundamentals of nursing references prior to 1999 typically do not acknowledge this as an important component of safe medication administration. Safe medication administration has been traditionally regarded as adhering to five rights (5Rs): right medication, dose, patient, route, and time. Adding a sixth right may be appropriate--the right technique in medication preparation.

The use of filter needles in aspirating parenteral medications from glass ampules was first recommended by Katz, Borden, and Hirscher (1973). This recommendation came from their observations during their anesthesia clinical practice that intravenous medications packaged in glass ampules often became contaminated with glass particles when opened. The American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) also offer current recommendations regarding the use of filter needles to remove tiny glass particles that result when glass ampules are opened (ASHP, 2000; INS, 2002). Glass particulate and bacterial contamination have long been recognized as hazards associated with ampules (Stehbens & Florey, 1960). IV administration of glass particles may lead to complications, including pulmonary thrombi and microemboli, infusion phlebitis, end-organ granuloma formation, and inflammation (Furgang, 1974; Garvin & Gunner, 1964; Rodger & King, 2000; Shaw & Lyall, 1985; Waller & George, 1986; Zacher, Zornow, & Evans, 1991).

The hazards of glass particulate contamination associated with glass ampules and the effectiveness of filter needles in decreasing such contamination are discussed. Strategies for compliance with filter needle use are highlighted.

Parenteral Medication Administration

The fundamentals. The knowledge and skills needed to prepare medication from glass ampules are taught early in nursing curricula. A review of several nursing fundamentals and basic skills textbooks revealed different perspectives regarding the use of filter needles to withdraw medications from glass ampules. Textbooks written from 1992 to 1998 (Baer & Williams, 1992; Craven & Hirnle, 1996; Elkin, Perry, & Potter, 1996; Kozier, Erb, Blais, Wilkinson, & Van Leuven, 1998; Perry & Potter, 1998; Taylor, Lillis, & LeMone, 1993) indicated that use of filter needles was optional. Books written from 1999 to 2005 (DeLaune & Ladner, 2002; Perry & Potter, 2002; Potter & Perry, 1999, 2003, 2005) recommended filter needle use when aspirating medication from glass ampules. This change may not have been communicated clearly to practicing nurses, who may consider use of a filter needle to be discretionary.

Even nurse educators and leaders do not seem to perceive the importance of filter needle use. During hospital orientation, the use of filter needles is not validated as a core competency, perhaps because of the assumption that students have already mastered this skill (Hadaway, 2003). A systems issue may also exist with regard to availability of filter needles in the clinical setting. Nurses who were taught to use filter needles in school often...

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 07:17 PM

Here's another one:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

**Big** · 05-30-2008, 07:22 PM

Interesting post.

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 07:24 PM

You know what? After reading all that, for what they cost, I'm just going to buy some. If I don't I'll be thinking, I hope I didn't get a little piece of glass in there, every time.

**Big** · 05-30-2008, 07:27 PM

Better safe than sorry, good read. I still think it's not likely, but the filters are cheap insurance just to be sure.

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 07:36 PM

Exactly. I always say, you can never be too safe or too rich.

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 08:07 PM

Another one:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...gdbfrom=pubmed

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 08:11 PM

This is the best deal I found on the filter needles:

http://www.allmed.net/catalog/item/1358

**Ashop** · 05-30-2008, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Vitali

Do I need one? I read someplace you do.

no..most mapules are human grade anyway.

**Vitali** · 05-30-2008, 10:02 PM

You don't need the filter needles because of the quality of the gear, it's due to the possibility of glass particles getting in the gear when you pop the ampule.

**SFVpumped** · 05-30-2008, 10:13 PM

never thought of this. im sure it is a good precaution but think of the thousands of amp users that shoot with no complications. if it was a problem i think it would be known wide-spread.

but excellent post/question and research vitali!!! hats off brother

**Kristofer68ss** · 06-22-2009, 04:59 PM

diggin up old post,,,,,,,

so does the sponsor carry filter needles?

are these filters really needed for drawing from amps......

I have a friend that asked me about it amps and drawing from them recently.

If the sponsor doesnt carry these, could i get a friendly pm with a little help?

I have searched online, but found very little results.

**Big** · 06-22-2009, 05:01 PM

sponsor doesn't sell them, I already answered whether I think you need them. just Google it if you want to get some.

**Hazard** · 06-22-2009, 05:05 PM

Just to touch on this..... i work in a hospital and yes.... doctor's do use filter needles. I personally don't use them when breaking amps tho.....

~Haz~

**Kristofer68ss** · 06-22-2009, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Big

sponsor doesn't sell them, I already answered whether I think you need them. just Google it if you want to get some.

yeah, i can read. thanks

kind of figured i would get a response like this.

oh well. on with the search.......

i know alot of guys use amps, yet only 2 threads come up when i search "filter needle".

nice.

**Kristofer68ss** · 06-22-2009, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Hazard

Just to touch on this..... i work in a hospital and yes.... doctor's do use filter needles. I personally don't use them when breaking amps tho.....

~Haz~

breaking them or drawing from them? not clear of what your point is.

**Hazard** · 06-22-2009, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Kristofer68ss

breaking them or drawing from them? not clear of what your point is.

What i meant was..... whenever i use amps (not often.... mainly use 10cc vials) - i don't use filter needles....

~Haz~

**Kristofer68ss** · 06-22-2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Hazard

What i meant was..... whenever i use amps (not often.... mainly use 10cc vials) - i don't use filter needles....

~Haz~

yeah, it seems most dont.

**The Deuce** · 06-22-2009, 06:34 PM

Never even thought of filtering it... ta hell with it !! GLASS PARTICLES ARE COOL !! Make you stronger !! Yah !! Plus even IF !!! You inject Glass particles your body would just PUSH them out of you... NOT A BIG DEAL.. no need of filtering IMO.. most AMPS are HG so it's already 10 times better than any UGL stuff IMO because well .. because its HG.

**Big** · 06-22-2009, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by Kristofer68ss

i know alot of guys use amps, yet only 2 threads come up when i search "filter needle".

nice.

that's because most people don't use them.

**gymnerd** · 06-22-2009, 08:24 PM

I just got some 18 g pins just for drawing my test out of amps because I have such a hard time with the 23g. That harpoon actually looks like it could suck up a piece of glass.

**kdizzog** · 06-22-2009, 08:42 PM

I empty my amps into a 10ml vile. One time I noticed a small piece of glass in the vile, so yes it can happen. I just think of a piece of glass in your finger, it hurts like hell. I wouldn't want that in my body. Soon as I seen it i got a filter.