Dead space of three types of insulin syringes produced in Iran using atomic absorption of calcium ions

Error in the process of diluting the drugs can lead to administration of inappropriate amount of drugs. Therefore, awareness to the dead space of insulin syringes, which are commonly used for diluting the drugs, is important. In this descriptive study, the dead space volumes of 86 samples from three different syringes made in Iran were measured by using atomic absorption of calcium ions in atomic absorption spectroscopy Varian model Specter AA.200. The dead space of SOHA-syringes® (non removable needle 1 ml insulin syringe) was 5.3±2.2 µl, which was significantly less than its counterparts in V MED-syringe® (removable needle 1 ml insulin syringe with T-shape plunger seal) with dead space of 21.05±9.17 µl and Atlas-syringes® (removable needle 1 ml insulin syringe) with dead space of 54.85±13.15µl. SOHA-syringes with non removable needles are the best for medication dilution in neonatology wards. Among syringes with removable needles, V MED-syringes are preferable to Atlas-syringes because of the smaller dead space.