g. Inject Medication. It is not necessary to aspirate the syringe since no large
vessels are commonly found in the superficial layer of the skin. Inject the medication as
follows:
(1)
Continue holding syringe with same hand.
(2)
Release skin tension with other hand.
(3) With free hand, push plunger slowly forward until the medication is
injected and a wheal appears at the site of the injection. The appearance of a wheal
indicates that the medication has entered the area between the intradermal tissues. If a
wheal does not appear, withdraw the needle and repeat the procedure in another site.
h. Withdraw Needle. To withdraw the needle, quickly withdraw it at the same
angle that it was inserted.
i. Cover Injection Site. Without applying pressure, quickly cover injection site
with a dry sterile small gauze.
j. Perform Postinjection Patient Care. Refer to paragraph 2-3u.
k. Evaluate Reaction of Medication. Usually you, as the medical specialist,
will not evaluate the reaction of a suspected allergic reaction or a tuberculin test, but will
record the reaction. For a tuberculin test, the patient will wait 48 to 72 hours and then
return to have an evaluation to determine if the patient has been exposed to
tuberculosis. If the intradermal injection is done to determine if the patient is allergic to
dust, pollen, or similar substances, a reaction will take place in a few minutes after the
substance has been placed under the skin.
(1)
Instruct the patient to wait or return to have the test read according to
local SOP.
(2) Caution patient not to rub, scratch, or wash injection site. Rubbing,
scratching, or washing may spread or dilute the medication, causing a false reading at a
later time.
l.
Dispose of Equipment. Dispose of equipment according to local SOP.
m. Record Administration of Intradermal Injection. Record the injection
information on the patient's chart or record.
MD0552
2-17