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How to read an insulin syringe
On a U-100 insulin syringe, 100 units is 1 mL, so each unit is 0.01 mL. Read the dose at the edge of the rubber stopper nearest the needle. On a 1 mL syringe each small line is 2 units. On 0.5 and 0.3 mL syringes each line is 1 unit.
What a unit is
The numbers on an insulin syringe are units, and on a U-100 syringe 100 units fill exactly 1 mL. That makes one unit 0.01 mL.
| Units | Volume |
|---|---|
| 5 units | 0.05 mL |
| 10 units | 0.1 mL |
| 25 units | 0.25 mL |
| 50 units | 0.5 mL |
| 100 units | 1 mL |
A unit is a mark for liquid. It does not say how much peptide is in that liquid. That depends on the vial and the water.
The three sizes
| Syringe | Holds | Each small line | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 mL | 30 units | 1 unit | Doses under 30 units |
| 0.5 mL | 50 units | 1 unit | Doses under 50 units |
| 1 mL | 100 units | 2 units | Doses from 30 to 100 units |
Some 0.3 mL syringes also have half-unit lines. Check the barrel of the one in your hand, because the spacing is printed on it.
The smaller the syringe, the further apart the lines, and the easier a small dose is to see. A 7 unit dose is a guess between two lines on a 1 mL syringe and an exact line on a 0.3 mL one.
Where to read it
The plunger ends in a rubber stopper. Read the dose at the edge of the stopper that is nearest the needle, where the rubber meets the liquid. Not the tip of the dome, and not the back edge.
Hold the syringe level with your eyes, needle up. Tap out any large air bubble and push it back into the vial, then check the line again.
Try it: move the plunger
Move the slider to pull the plunger. Add your concentration to see the dose that mark holds.
Doses that fall between lines
If the math gives 7.5 units and your syringe has a line every 2 units, the dose cannot be drawn exactly. There are two fixes, and neither is rounding.
- Use a smaller syringe with 1 unit or half-unit lines.
- Mix the next vial with a different amount of water so the dose lands on a line. The calculator shows where it lands for each amount.
Questions
How many units is 0.1 mL?
10 units on a U-100 syringe.
Is 1 unit the same as 1 mg?
No. A unit is 0.01 mL of liquid. How many milligrams that holds depends on the concentration in the vial.
Can I use a U-40 syringe?
The charts here are for U-100 syringes. A U-40 syringe has 40 units in 1 mL, so every number would be wrong.
Related
Units, mL and mg explainedHow to mix a peptide vialPeptide calculatorPeptide dosage chartDosages A to ZAll guides
DosageFacts is an information site. It is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed professional before using any medication.