1. Hypodermic Syringe Measurement
Chapter 8
Hypodermic Syringe Measurement

2. Syringe Volume Sizes
0.5 mL
1 mL
3 mL
5 mL
10 mL
20 mL
60 mL

3. Syringe Calibrations
Regardless of syringe’s volume, syringes are calibrated in milliliters.
Except specialized insulin syringes

4. How to Read a Syringe From top/front ring
First long calibration always zero

5. 3 mL Syringes Most common Should be calibrated using metric unit mL
Some still include calibrations in cubic centimeter (cc)
Essentially identical to mL
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6. 3 mL Syringes (cont’d)
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7. 3 mL Syringes (cont’d)
Shorter calibration marks indicate tenths of a mL.
Longer calibration marks indicate ½, 1, 1½, 2, 2½, and 3 mL.
Tenths of a mL written as decimal fractions:
For example, 0.1 mL, 0.6 mL, 0.9 mL
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8. 3 mL Syringes (cont’d)
What is the volume of medication in the syringe?
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9. Safety Syringes
Developed to decrease risk of accidental, contaminated needle sticks.
Variety currently manufactured.
Most health-care facilities use one brand.
Become familiar with type used in local clinical facility.

10. Tuberculin (TB) Syringes
Most common volume is 1 mL
Calibrated in hundredths
Noted by shorter calibration marks
Each tenth calibration mark has Arabic number printed on syringe barrel.
For example, .1, .2, .3, etc.
Noted by longer calibration marks
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11. TB Syringes (cont’d)
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12. TB Syringes (cont’d) What is the volume of medication in the syringe?
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13. Larger Volume Syringes
Most common:
5 mL
10 mL
20 mL
60 mL
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14. Larger Volume Syringes (cont’d)
Shorter calibration marks on 5 mL and mL syringes measure 0.2 mL.
Longer calibration marks measure 1 mL.

15. 5 mL Syringe
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16. 10 mL Syringe
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17. 10 mL Syringe (cont’d)
What is the volume of medication in the syringe?
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