Injection Technique: Subcutaneous (SQ), Tented Using One and Two hands
Introduction
Damage to eatable tissue from injectable animal health products, especially in the more expensive cuts of beef surfaced as a significant problem in the 1991 National Quality Audit conducted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and funded by the Beef Check Off. To address the finding, the NCBA Beef Safety and Quality Taskforce developed guidelines for injectable health product use and the NCBA began a national educational program to change the injection technique used for routine animal health injectable products. In an effort to remove injections for eatable tissue, the NCBA injectable animal health product use guidelines encouraged the selection and use of injectable products that could be given subcutaneously (SQ or Sub-Q) and encouraged the selection of the neck region for administration of all injectables in cattle. Additionally, the BQA program encourages lifting the skin (tenting the skin) and inserting the injection needle at the base of the tented area. Tenting the skin provides additional assurance that the injection is given between the skin and the underlying muscle (eatable tissue). As part of the campaign, the NCBA also asked companies and federal regulatory agencies involved in the development and approval of injectable pharmaceutical and biologic products to place an emphasis on SQ delivery.
Subcutaneous Injection Using the Two Hand Tented Technique
The SQ-Two-Hand Tented injection technique is the preferred method of injection in the NCBA National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. Additionally, the BQA program emphasizes all injections in cattle, regardless of age, should be given ahead of the slope of the shoulder.
The SQ-Two-Hand Tented technique requires lifting the skin with one hand and inserting the injection needle at the base of the tented area. While length of the injection needle may vary, a ½ inch to 5/8 inch needle is recommended. A 18 gauge to 16 gauge is the preferred needle diameter.
Subcutaneous Injection Using a One-Hand Tented Technique
The SQ-One-Hand Tented injection technique, while not the “Gold-Standard” for giving SQ injections, may be required when the safety of the person giving the injection would be compromised by the SQ Two-Hand Tented technique. Safety concerns arise when the animal restraining devise does not provide enough exposed injection site area and when the injectable animal health product has a significant human toxicity potential if accidentally injected in a person tenting the skin.
The SQ-One-Hand Tented technique requires inserting the needle through the skin, but not so deep as to penetrate in to underlying tissue, then lifting the tip of the needle to raise the skin up from the underlying tissue before giving the injections. Using the shortest length injection needle possible will minimized the potential for getting the injected product in eatable tissue. The length of the injection needle recommended for the SQ-One-Hand Tented technique is ½ inch to 5/8 inch. As in the SQ-Two-Hand Tented technique, a 18 gauge to 16 gauge is the preferred needle diameter
Important Note
Adequate restraint is critical for safe, proper administration of any injectable. Inadequate restraint is at the root of all bent and broken needles and most personal injury related to injectable product use.