In the medical syringe market, two factors are crucial for healthcare practitioners and patients worldwide: the material of the syringe and needle, and the assurance of sterility. As a reliable syringe supplier with over 20 years of experience serving the European and American markets, we will explain these two key issues in plain language to help you make informed choices for medical, veterinary, or laboratory applications.
Part 1: What materials are syringe barrels and needles made of?
Syringe components aren't designed to be one-size-fits-all; material selection requires a comprehensive consideration of safety, durability, and compatibility with medications. The following is an analysis of the mainstream materials widely recognized in the industry:
Syringe Barrel Material: Balancing Safety and Practicality
Syringe barrels (the transparent tube containing the medication) are typically made of medical-grade polypropylene (PP) for the following reasons:
Biocompatibility: Polypropylene is non-toxic and does not react with medications, vaccines, or body fluids. There is no risk of chemical leaching during injection, ensuring safety.
High Clarity: Transparent polypropylene allows users to clearly observe drug dosage, bubbles, or particulate matter, which is crucial for precise dosing.
Durability: Even when withdrawing viscous fluids like antibiotics, it withstands pressure without breaking and can withstand common sterilization procedures.
Cost-Effective: Polypropylene offers high performance at an affordable price, making it ideal for both disposable and single-use syringes.
Syringe Needle Material: Emphasizing Strength and Corrosion Resistance
As the "working end" of a syringe, the needle must be made of a material that meets the requirements of being sharp, strong, and non-reactive. The industry gold standard is medical-grade stainless steel, specifically 304 or 316L grades.
Corrosion Resistance: The 316L stainless steel used in our high-end needles contains molybdenum, which prevents rust even when exposed to saline, blood, or acidic medications like insulin.
Sharpness and Strength: The precision-ground needle tip is incredibly sharp (reducing patient pain), while the rigidity of stainless steel prevents bending during use.
Biocompatibility: Stainless steel is less likely to cause allergic reactions, which is particularly important for repeated use, such as in livestock injections.
To further enhance the user experience, all of our needles are silicone-coated on both the inside and outside surfaces. This reduces friction between the needle and the skin and medication, ensuring smoother injections while minimizing the risk of tissue damage.
Part 2: How do we ensure syringe sterility and safety?
Even the best materials cannot guarantee safe use if the syringe is contaminated. For the European and American markets, sterility is not just a requirement; it's our commitment. Below is our complete process for ensuring every syringe leaving our factory is safe and functional:
Step 1: Raw Material Testing (The First Step Before Production)
We never compromise on raw materials. Every batch of polypropylene or stainless steel must pass the following tests:
Chemical purity (free of heavy metals such as lead and mercury);
Biocompatibility (compliance with ISO 10993 standards to ensure no adverse reactions);
Mechanical strength (for example, pressure testing of polypropylene barrels to prevent leakage).
Only raw materials that pass all these tests are allowed to enter the production process.
Step 2: Cleanroom Production
All syringes are produced in an ISO Class 8 cleanroom (with air particles counts below 100,000 per cubic meter, significantly cleaner than a typical hospital ward). Workers wear full sterile protective suits, gloves, and masks, and the air is filtered through a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) system to remove contaminants such as dust and bacteria.
For large-volume orders, such as the 1mL syringes needed for vaccination clinics, we use automated assembly lines to minimize human contact. Our disposable 1mL vaccine syringes are produced using this method, ensuring consistency and sterility in every syringe.
Step 3: Post-Production Sterilization (Final "Safety Check")
After assembly, syringes are sterilized using two industry-recognized methods:
Ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization: Suitable for most disposable syringes. EO gas penetrates the packaging and kills 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The syringes are then ventilated for 72 hours to remove any residual EO.
Step 4: Final Inspection and Compliance Documentation
Before shipment, we randomly sample 1% of each order for testing:
Leakage test (immersing the syringe in water to check for bubbles);
Sterility test (culturing the sample to ensure microbial growth);
Visual inspection (no scratches, deformation, or foreign matter in the syringe).
Why Choose Our Syringes for Western Markets?
Whether you're a US hospital needing 50mL IV syringes, a European vet clinic ordering 3mL animal syringes, or a German lab requiring COC barrels for precision testing, our products are engineered for your needs:
All materials ar CE-approved.
Sterility is guaranteed for 5 years (unopened).
Custom options (colored barrels, specific needle gauges) are available for bulk orders.
Ready to explore our products? Start with these top choices for European and US clients:
Medical-Grade PP Syringe Barrels (1mL–50mL)
Sterile 316L Syringe Needles (18G–30G)
Disposable 1mL Vaccine Syringes (EO-Sterilized)
High-Clarity COC Syringe Barrels (for Labs)
Have questions about material compatibility or custom orders? Contact us at jyksharp@gmail.com Thank you