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PREDICTIVE STUDIES VII (PS VII): Interactions of Hyperoxia, Exercise, and Immersion in Neurologic O2 Poisoning.
Major Category: Oxygen toxicity and oxygenation. Immersion. Exercise. (PS VII)
Subcategory 7: Methods: comparison of glass and plastic syringes re’ rates of gas loss from contained solution.

Stressors: N/A

Date: 1993

Expt. Title: Evaluation of new disposable syringe as potential replacement of glass syringe for storage of blood prior to blood-gas analysis.

Description: 

A new disposable syringe and its plunger constructed entirely of polypropylene (low diffusion coefficients for gases) came to our attention. It was considered a potential replacement for precision glass syringes used to sample and then store arterial blood gas prior to blood-gas analysis. Discussion with the manufacturer confirmed that the syringe was considered gas tight, with only polypropylene in contact with the contents. It was decided to subject these syringes to a comparison test against the precision glass syringe in use for blood-gas analysis. Advantages of the disposable syringe would be elimination of need to autoclave the glass syringes, and elimination of the possibility of glass breakage in the pressure chamber. Plastic 10cc syringes were acquired for test vis-a-vis the glass syringe and the common plastic syringe with a rubber covered plunger. Severe tests indicated that all syringes had little gas exchange over a multiple hour period. The new polypropylene syringe performed better than the standard plastic disposable syringe, but not as good as the glass syringe.

Manufacturer of polpropylene disposable syringes:

AIR-TITE of Virginia, Inc.
423 South Lynnhaven Rd., #104
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 (800) 231-7762

Syringe tested: SYAE00110APLL: 10cc all plastic LL, luer lock, air tight

Measurements:

pH, PCO2, and PO2 vs time of water equilibrated with calibration gas

07 February 2000 11:08:16 AM