Why 22G × 1" with Regular Bevel for Versatile Clinical Applications

The 22-gauge needle (0.7mm outer diameter) represents the optimal balance between patient comfort and clinical versatility—fine enough to minimize injection discomfort while large enough to accommodate most non-viscous medications, blood draws, and fluid aspirations without excessive resistance or slow flow rates. The 1-inch (25mm) length is the standard for intramuscular injections in the deltoid muscle of average-sized adults and appropriate for subcutaneous injections in patients with adequate adipose tissue, making this gauge-length combination one of the most commonly used in clinical practice. The regular bevel (standard 12-15 degree angle) provides reliable skin penetration with sharp cutting edges that reduce insertion force and tissue trauma compared to blunt needles, while Terumo's triple-sharpened bevel technology with precision grinding creates ultra-sharp tips that glide through tissue smoothly. Compatible with both Luer Lock (threaded) and Luer Slip (push-on) syringes, these needles offer flexibility across different clinical workflows and equipment preferences, while the individual sterile packaging in convenient 5-needle inner packs supports both high-volume facilities and smaller clinics requiring organized inventory management.

Key Features & Benefits

Key Features:

• 22-gauge (22G) needle with 0.7mm outer diameter for balanced comfort and flow
• 1-inch (25mm) length suitable for IM and deep subcutaneous injections
• Regular bevel with precision-sharpened tip for smooth penetration
• Triple-sharpened bevel technology reduces insertion force
• Stainless steel cannula for strength and sharpness retention
• Color-coded hub (typically black for 22G per ISO standards)
• Transparent or translucent hub for blood flashback visualization
• Compatible with both Luer Lock and Luer Slip syringes
• Thin-wall construction for improved flow (product dependent)
• Sterile, individually packaged in rigid protective shields
• Inner packs of 5 needles for convenient dispensing
• Box of 100 needles (20 inner packs × 5 needles)
• Latex-free construction for allergy safety
• Manufactured by Terumo (trusted global medical device company)
• Meets ISO and international quality standards
• Single-use, disposable design

Benefits:

• Versatile gauge appropriate for most routine injections
• Standard length suitable for average adult IM injections
• Sharp bevel reduces injection pain and tissue trauma
• Compatible with multiple syringe types (Lock and Slip)
• Color-coded hub enables quick gauge identification
• Clear hub allows blood return visualization
• Inner packs organize inventory and reduce waste
• Sterile packaging ensures infection control
• Latex-free protects sensitive patients and healthcare workers
• Reliable Terumo quality with consistent performance
• Cost-effective bulk packaging for clinical use
• Single-use design prevents cross-contamination

Clinical Applications

Terumo 22G × 1" hypodermic needles are appropriate for:

✓ Intramuscular injections in deltoid muscle (adults) ✓ Subcutaneous injections (average to obese patients) ✓ Antibiotic IM administration (non-viscous formulations) ✓ Vaccine administration (adults and adolescents) ✓ Vitamin B12 and other vitamin injections ✓ Hormone therapy injections (non-oil-based) ✓ Blood sample collection from veins ✓ Drawing medications from vials and ampules ✓ Venipuncture for blood draws ✓ IV medication preparation and reconstitution ✓ Aspiration procedures (joint fluid, cysts) ✓ Local anesthetic administration ✓ Allergy immunotherapy injections ✓ Tuberculin testing (though 25G-27G more common) ✓ Laboratory specimen collection ✓ Veterinary medication administration ✓ Medication waste removal from multi-dose vials ✓ Research and laboratory applications

Usage & Application

Pre-Use Preparation:

1. Verify clinical indication:
   • Confirm medication order, dose, route, patient identity
   • Check patient allergies
   • Perform "5 Rights" verification
2. Select appropriate equipment:
   • Verify 22G × 1" appropriate for:
     • Patient size and injection site
     • Medication viscosity
     • Injection route (IM or SubQ)
   • Choose compatible syringe (Luer Lock or Luer Slip)
3. Gather supplies:
   • Terumo 22G × 1" needle (verify package intact, not expired)
   • Appropriate syringe
   • Medication
   • Alcohol swabs
   • Clean gloves
   • Gauze pads
   • Adhesive bandage
   • Sharps container
4. Hand hygiene:
   • Wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds
   • Or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
   • Don clean gloves
5. Inspect needle package:
   • Check sterile shield for damage
   • Verify expiration date
   • Ensure rigid shield intact
   • Discard if compromised

Attaching Needle to Syringe:

For Luer Lock Syringes:

1. Remove protective cap from syringe tip
2. Remove needle from protective shield by grasping hub
3. Align needle hub threads with syringe tip threads
4. Rotate needle clockwise while pushing gently
5. Twist until firmly seated (typically 1/4 to 1/2 turn)
6. Verify secure connection by gentle tug

For Luer Slip Syringes:

1. Remove protective cap from syringe tip
2. Remove needle from protective shield by grasping hub
3. Align needle hub with syringe tip
4. Push straight onto syringe tip with firm pressure
5. Push until hub fully seated against barrel
6. Verify secure connection by gentle tug

Drawing Medication:

1. From vials:
   • Clean rubber stopper with alcohol swab
   • Draw air equal to medication volume into syringe
   • Insert needle through stopper, inject air
   • Invert vial, withdraw medication
   • Remove air bubbles, verify dose
2. From ampules:
   • Break ampule carefully
   • Insert needle and draw medication
   • Remove air bubbles
   • Replace needle before injection (prevents tissue trauma from glass particles)

Intramuscular Injection Technique:

Site Selection:

• Deltoid (most common for 22G × 1"): Upper arm, 2-3 finger widths below acromion
• Vastus lateralis: Anterior thigh, middle third
• Ventrogluteal: Hip, preferred for larger volumes
• Dorsogluteal: Buttock (less commonly used due to nerve proximity)

Procedure:

1. Position patient with muscle relaxed
2. Clean site with alcohol swab in circular motion
3. Allow alcohol to air dry completely (prevents stinging)
4. Stretch skin taut with non-dominant hand
5. Hold syringe like dart
6. Insert needle at 90-degree angle with quick, smooth motion
7. Insert to full 1-inch depth to ensure medication reaches muscle
8. Aspirate per protocol (pull back slightly to check for blood)
   • If blood appears: withdraw, discard, prepare new injection
   • If no blood: proceed with injection
9. Inject medication slowly and steadily
10. Withdraw needle quickly at same 90-degree angle
11. Apply gentle pressure with gauze (do not massage unless indicated)
12. Apply adhesive bandage if needed

Subcutaneous Injection Technique:

Site Selection:

• Abdomen (2 inches from navel)
• Anterior thigh
• Upper arm (triceps area)
• Upper buttocks

Procedure:

1. Clean site with alcohol swab, allow to dry
2. Pinch skin gently (for average patients) or inject without pinch (obese patients)
3. Insert needle at 45-90 degree angle (depending on amount of subcutaneous tissue)
4. 1-inch needle typically inserted to hub or near-hub depth for SubQ
5. Release pinch if used
6. Inject medication slowly
7. Count to 5 after plunger depressed (ensures complete delivery)
8. Withdraw needle
9. Apply gentle pressure, do not massage

Blood Draw Technique:

1. Apply tourniquet 3-4 inches above puncture site
2. Select appropriate vein (palpate, not just visualize)
3. Clean site with alcohol, allow to dry
4. Anchor vein by pulling skin taut below puncture site
5. Insert needle bevel up at 15-30 degree angle
6. Advance until blood flashback visible in hub
7. Release tourniquet once blood flow established
8. Collect required sample volume
9. Place gauze over site, withdraw needle
10. Apply firm pressure for 2-5 minutes
11. Apply pressure bandage

Post-Procedure Care:

1. Do not recap needle:
   • Never recap using two hands (causes needlestick injuries)
   • If recapping absolutely necessary, use one-handed scoop technique only
2. Activate safety device (if equipped):
   • Some Terumo needles have safety shields
   • Activate immediately per manufacturer instructions
3. Immediate disposal:
   • Dispose of entire needle-syringe assembly in sharps container
   • Do not separate needle from syringe (increases injury risk)
4. Remove gloves and hand hygiene:
   • Remove gloves properly
   • Wash hands thoroughly
5. Document procedure:
   • Medication, dose, route, site, time
   • Patient response
   • Any adverse reactions
6. Monitor patient:
   • Observe for adverse reactions
   • Assess injection site after 10-15 minutes

Troubleshooting:

Needle won't attach to syringe:

• Verify syringe tip type matches needle hub
• For Luer Lock: ensure twisting clockwise
• Check for damaged threads
• Ensure proper alignment before twisting/pushing

Needle bends during insertion:

• May have hit bone—withdraw and reassess site
• Ensure inserting at correct angle (90° for IM)
• Don't force needle against resistance
• Replace with new needle if bent (never use bent needles)

Difficulty penetrating skin:

• Ensure needle is sharp (brand new, unopened)
• Insert with quick, dart-like motion (not slow push)
• Try different site if skin very tough
• Verify needle isn't dulled from touching surfaces

Blood appears when aspirating (IM injection):

• Withdraw needle immediately
• Apply pressure to site
• Discard syringe and medication
• Prepare new injection with fresh supplies
• Select different site

Excessive bleeding after injection:

• Apply firm pressure for 3-5 minutes
• Patients on anticoagulants may bleed more
• Elevate extremity if possible
• If bleeding doesn't stop, notify provider

Medication won't inject smoothly:

• 22G should handle most non-viscous medications well
• If viscous medication, consider larger gauge (20G)
• Ensure needle not occluded
• Verify syringe plunger moves freely

Patient reports severe pain during injection:

• May indicate wrong route (subcutaneous instead of IM)
• May have hit nerve—withdraw immediately if sharp, shooting pain
• Ensure alcohol dried before insertion
• Inject slowly (rapid injection causes discomfort)

Special Considerations:

Pediatric patients:

• 22G × 1" may be appropriate for adolescents and larger children
• Younger/smaller children typically need smaller gauge (23G-25G) and shorter length
• Calculate doses carefully (weight-based)
• Use distraction techniques
• Consider topical anesthetic for anxious children

Geriatric patients:

• May have decreased muscle mass—assess deltoid carefully
• 1-inch needle may be too long for very thin elderly patients
• Fragile skin bruises easily
• May be on anticoagulants (longer bleeding time)
• Inject slowly to reduce discomfort

Obese patients:

• 1-inch needle may be inadequate for IM injections in very obese patients
• Consider 1.5-inch needle for deltoid in obese adults
• May need longer needles for other IM sites
• SubQ injections: no pinch needed (adequate adipose tissue)

Thin/cachectic patients:

• 1-inch needle may be too long—can hit bone
• Consider shorter needle (5/8")
• Assess muscle mass at injection site
• Use smallest appropriate gauge

Patients with bleeding disorders:

• Apply pressure longer (5-10 minutes)
• Avoid IM injections when possible (higher bleeding risk than SubQ)
• Use smallest appropriate gauge
• Monitor closely for hematoma

Anticoagulated patients:

• SubQ route preferred over IM (less bleeding)
• Apply firm pressure longer after injection
• Monitor for bruising and hematoma
• Document anticoagulation status

Patients with needle anxiety:

• Explain procedure clearly
• Use distraction techniques
• Quick insertion less painful than slow
• Consider topical anesthetic
• Allow patient to look away during insertion

Medication-Specific Considerations:

Antibiotics:

• Most non-viscous antibiotics flow well through 22G
• Some painful on injection—inject slowly, use z-track technique
• Rotate sites for repeated doses

Vaccines:

• 22G appropriate for most adult vaccines
• IM route for most vaccines (check specific vaccine requirements)
• Don't aspirate for vaccines (current CDC guidelines)
• Document lot number and expiration

B12 and vitamin injections:

• IM route typically prescribed
• 22G × 1" appropriate for deltoid injection
• Rotate sites for repeated injections

Hormones (non-oil-based):

• Water-based hormone injections flow well through 22G
• For oil-based hormones, may need larger gauge (20G)
• Warm oil-based medications to body temperature (easier flow)

Blood draws:

• 22G appropriate for most adult venipuncture
• Provides good flow rate without excessive hemolysis
• May cause more discomfort than smaller gauges (23G-25G)
• Appropriate for most laboratory tests

Storage:

• Store at room temperature 15-30°C (59-86°F)
• Protect from excessive heat, cold, and humidity
• Keep in original packaging until use
• Store in clean, dry area away from contaminants
• Check expiration dates regularly
• Rotate stock using FIFO (first in, first out) method
• Do not use past expiration date (sterility not guaranteed)

Disposal:

• Dispose of needle-syringe assembly immediately in sharps container
• Never recap needles using two hands
• Do not separate needle from syringe before disposal
• Never place used needles in regular trash or recycling
• When sharps container 3/4 full, seal and dispose per local regulations
• Many pharmacies and hospitals offer sharps disposal programs

Infection Control:

• Always use aseptic technique
• Never reuse needles—single-use only
• Never use same needle for multiple patients
• Discard needles from damaged packages
• Clean injection sites with alcohol before each injection
• Use new sterile needle for each injection or blood draw
• Change needles between drawing from vial and injecting patient (especially for ampules)

When to Contact Healthcare Provider:

• Persistent pain, redness, or swelling at injection site
• Signs of infection (warmth, drainage, fever)
• Severe bruising or hematoma formation
• Needlestick injury or blood exposure
• Questions about appropriate needle size
• Difficulty performing injection despite proper technique
• Patient develops allergic reaction after injection

Regulatory Compliance:

• Terumo needles meet FDA requirements for hypodermic needles
• Manufactured in ISO-certified facilities
• Comply with ISO 7864 (sterile hypodermic needles) and ISO 9626 (needle tube dimensions)
• Meet USP standards for sterility
• Color coding follows ISO 6009 international standards (black hub for 22G)
• Latex-free to comply with healthcare safety requirements