Overview of the Selection Criteria of an Hypodermic Needle

A hypodermic needle serves as a vital link between the drug and the patient, playing a crucial role in patient safety and comfort, treatment efficacy, and protecting healthcare professionals (HCPs). Since these devices enter directly into targeted tissue, selecting the right needle is essential. Hypodermic needles have various attributes such as gauge (cannula diameter), point type, length, wall thickness, safety mechanisms (active/passive), packaging (e.g., hard case, blister), hub material and more... These features must be carefully chosen based on several factors, including drug type, viscosity, administration route, injection site, and patient profile (age, gender, BMI, …), point of use, region of Sales. Additionally, when needles are co-packaged with the drug, the pharmaceutical packaging process becomes a key consideration. This presentation aims to provide guidelines for selecting hypodermic needles by identifying critical attributes specific to the intended application.