Introduction to Injections
Administer and Monitor Medication in the Work
Environment
Topic 8 Intradermal
Intradermal Injection
 Administered usually into the forearm.
Other sites include the upper chest,
the upper arm, and shoulder blades.
- given into the dermal layer of the skin,
just under the epidermis.
- Injected at about a 10 – 150 angle.
Intradermal Injection
- Only a very small dose can be given <
0.5ml, usually 0.01 – 0.1ml.
- Used for TB & allergy testing.
- As there is a reduced blood supply, drug
absorption can occur slowly.
Subcutaneous Injection
 Administration sites include: abdomen,
anterior thigh, and the fat pad over the
deltoid muscle in the upper arm
- given under the skin into the loose fat &
connective tissue
- Absorption of drug is via the capillaries ...
slower acting than IM or IV
- slow, steady absorption
Injection Routes
 Subcutaneous
- should never be given into scar tissue, a
lesion or over a bony prominence
- As subcutaneous tissues contain pain
receptors, only a small volume < 2ml
should be given
- Unsuitable for any drug that may be
irritating to the tissues
Injection Routes
 Intramuscular - given into the muscle
tissue below the fatty subcutaneous layer
- Rich blood supply ... readily absorbed into
the bloodstream
- Suitable for drugs that are soluble, non
irritant to soft tissue & require quick
absorption
Injection Routes
 Intramuscular
- Up to 4ml can be injected without causing
undue discomfort
- Solution can be more viscous than that
given by SC route – permits thicker, oil
based compounds
Administering injections
 Intradermal
- these medications are very potent
requiring very slow absorption
- Only very small amounts can be
administered 0.01 – 0.1ml
- The needle is inserted at an angle of 10 –
15 0 to the skin
- a small bleb should appear on the surface
of the skin
Administering injections
 Intradermal
- if a bleb doesn’t appear, most likely the
medication has entered the sc tissue &
any results from the skin testing will be
invalid
- The inner forearm & upper back are the
most common sites used
Administering injections
 Intradermal
What equipment do you
need?
Procedure
 Intradermal injection - perform the standard
protocol for beginning the procedure
- Select injection site & clean skin with an
alcohol swab; allow to dry
- Expel any air from the syringe
- Pull the skin taught & insert the needle into
the skin approximately 3mm at a 10 – 150
angle, bevel face upwards
Procedure
 Intradermal
- do not aspirate but inject slowly – it should
produce a small bleb under the skin
- Withdraw the needle smoothly & wipe the
injection site
- Do not massage – may disperse
medication into sc layer
- Complete the standard protocol for the
completion of a procedure
Things to consider…
 Client must be observed closely as they
may have a severe anaphylactic
reaction if a test allergen is being
injected
 The site chosen should be free of
lesions & only lightly pigmented –
enables clear inspection & assessment
of any changes from the injection