I have a single-use plastic syringe with a circled Z symbol on it. What does this indicate? It does not appear in ISO 15223-1.
Have you ruled out the possibility that it is a manufacturer’s logo?
Are you sure it is a Z and not a 2? A strike across 2 means do not reuse.
I have not ruled that out; I will have to find the original cardboard box…
It’s definitely not a “2”.
On this syringe itself, besides the graduation, is printed:
Syringe 3ml for single use sterile
Latex Free [circled Z] [circled 2 with diagonal stroke]
The first symbol is a Ⓩ of the same size and weight as, but clearly distinguishable from, the struck-out circled 2 right next to it.
Who is the manufacturer?
A z-track injection is a type of intramuscular injection. My guess would be that the circled z indicates that the syringe is suitable for use in a z-track injection. Syringes not suitable for z-track injections would presumably have a z in a crossed-out circle.
How about a pic or two?
Is it the Zimmer Biomet logo?
A Z-track injection doesn’t require any particular type of syringe. Any syringe capable of an IM injection (ie. any normal syringe) is suitable for that technique.
Good guess though.
Do you know if the syringe was made with a specific use in mind? For example, syringes that are specifically intended for insulin use have specific markings for this purpose.
According to the individual wrapper, “Shandong Zibo Shanchuan Medical Instrument Co., Ltd., No. 88 Shanchuan Road, Zichuan, Zibo, Shandong Province, China.”
It is not. The “Z” looks like a normal sans-serif “Z”, same as the “2”, except it’s a “Z” and not struck out.
Not that I know of. The wrapper says, “MEDI-PLUS SYRINGE SET / 3ml / sterile, non-toxic pyrogen free, do not use if the envelope is punctured. / Syringe 3ml for single use sterile / Latex Free / LUER SLIP”. The wrapper has STERILE EO, the crossed out 2, and a CE mark, but the Ⓩ is conspicuously absent. It appears only on the barrel of the syringe itself.
I am not sure I can find the original carton. I will try to provide pictures of the actual syringe and wrapper.
My WAG is that it denotes the the plastic contains a Zinc additive which is one of the stabilizers that are used specifically to reduce degradation by sunlight, ozone, and biological agents. This may be important information depending on how, where, and with what the syringe is used.
Doesn’t seem likely to me - what’s the point of encoding important information in a way that is so difficult to interpret?
It’s way out of my area of expertise, but my guess would be that it has something to do with the categorisation of the device (type).
j
On second look, it can’t be a coincidence that they are based out of Zibo, China. It might denote the factory where the syringe was produced.
Pictures:
https://transfer.sh/FGdRQ/a.jpg
https://transfer.sh/pylrJ/b.jpg
https://transfer.sh/5R91A/c.jpg
https://transfer.sh/ZwYxt/d.jpg
Thanks for the pictures, they help. But the mystery remains.
I find it interesting that the circled Z is not on the manufacturer’s identification on the label.
What will really blow your mind is— unfortunately I don’t have a picture ATM— on some needles apparently from the same manufacturer the circled Z is on the label.
And while the CE marking is clearly there, the pictures do not show any CCC marking. Maybe they’re not cleared to distribute in China? I’m a little familiar with the CCC and China type testing process… just a little.
My wife is a doctor. I showed her the picture. She said she’s seen that symbol.
She doesn’t know what it means.
I never noticed a symbol like that. I Googled “circled Z on syringe” and didn’t get any useful information either.