If you work in a hospital or a lab, then you are going to end up using a lot of different tools and equipment. One particular piece of equipment you are going to come across a lot is a glass ampule.
When you first begin your medical career though, working out how to open these glass ampules can be a bit tricky, so how do you open one correctly?
In this article, we’ll be going over everything you need to know about an ampule, as well as the correct way in which to open it. So let’s get started.
What Is An Ampule?
First and foremost, let’s go over what an ampule actually is. They are small sealed vials that are usually made out of glass. They are used to store samples of medicines and solutions that need to be kept protected from the air and contaminants.
These ampules are usually hermetically sealed by melting the top with an open flame, which assures that they can’t be opened. When it does come time to open the ampule, they are usually just snapped at the neck.
Some common chemicals that you can find being stored in an ampule include injectable pharmaceuticals, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, and other air-sensitive reagents.
They are usually kept in a lab as this is the safest place to keep them.
How To Open An Ampule
Opening an ampule is a pretty straightforward process, but there are some things you need to do before you open it. You have to make sure that your hands are protected and the area in which you are opening them needs to be sterile and clean.
To open an ampule properly, follow these steps:
1. Wash And Sanitize Your Hands
Before anything else, you need to make sure that you wash and sanitize your hands properly. Use both soap and hand sanitizer to make sure there are no dangerous bacterias lingering that could upset the solution within the ampule.
It is also a good idea once you’ve washed your hands to put on some latex gloves that are powder free.
2. Check To See If It Has A Score Marking
Most ampules will have been lightly cut to weaken the glass for breaking, and this is what’s known as a “score”.
You need this score in order for the ampule to open. To check to see if your ampule has a score, look out for a painted ring around the neck or around the narrowest part of it.
If it has this ring, then it has been scored already, and you can move on to the next step. If it doesn’t, that’s fine. You can do it for yourself. All you need to do is get a very fine file and gently run it around the neck. Just be careful not to do this too hard or you could break the whole thing.
3. Clean The Ampule
Now it’s time to clean the ampule. You will need a fresh alcohol swab to do this. Wipe the entire surface of the ampule with this alcohol swab until it’s all been swabbed.
If it feels a bit too wet or even slippery after you’ve cleaned it, give it 2 to 3 minutes to dry off before you proceed any further.
4. Check The Liquid In The Ampule
Now it is clean, you’re going to want to hold the ampule so the top is pointing up. Make sure it’s straight while you do this. You also have to make sure that all of the liquid is below the neck and the score, where it will break.
If any liquid is still in the neck or score, then gently flick the top of the ampule until the excess liquid drops to the bottom.
5. Grip The Ampule & Wear Protection On Your Hands
You can wear gloves for this step, but to make it even safer, wrap the ampule in some gauze before you grip it with your hand. Use your dominant hand to hold the top half of the ampule and use your other hand to grip the bottom.
Some ampules have a painted dot on the top half which is the pressure point. This is where you need to place your thumb.
If there is no dot there, then all you have to do is place your thumb ever so slightly above where the top of the ampule starts to curve at the neck.
6. Hold The Bottom & Snap The Top Half Towards You
Once you are confident with your grip, keep the hand that is holding the bottom half as still as you can.
With your dominant hand, snap the top half quickly towards you. This will make sure that the part that breaks is not facing you, so if any liquid does escape, it will fly in the opposite direction.
Make sure the thumb on your dominant hand stays on the pressure point throughout this process.
7. Discard The Ampule
Once the ampule has been broken, wrap the top half of it in some tissue paper and discard it. Even if it doesn’t look like there are any sharp points, wrapping it up in tissue is the safest way to discard it.
If your ampule contains any biohazard materials, then put it in the appropriate waste bin, not in with the standard trash. Make sure to label it in this case too.
If The Ampule Doesn’t Break
In the event it doesn’t break when you try to snap it, just rotate the ampule and try again. Twist it slightly to loosen it up a bit and make sure to put your hands back in the appropriate position. Eventually, it will snap, it just might take a few tries.
Conclusion
Opening ampules is quite a straightforward process, but it does help to have a guide if you’re new to it. Because ampules can contain hazardous liquids, safety is extremely important when handling them.
Use the steps we have provided to break an ampule and eventually the whole process will become second nature. Just remember to stay safe!