Poor syringe design can cost, depending on the drug, up to $2,300 per year per patient, according to a study by researchers at UNC and RTI International.

When medicine is injected a small amount of the medicine stays behind in the syringe, according to the study. Researchers say it’s not much, but depending on the syringe dead space, the leftover fluid that remains after the medicine is injected, the costs can add up.

In syringes with high-dead space, the average amount that is left behind averages to about three percent of the volume of the dose, according to a release. In syringes with a low-dead-space design, the volume leftover is almost 10 times less.

“It is a difference of fractions of a millimeter, but when some of these medications cost more than $20,000 a month, it adds up,” study author Christine Oramasionwu said in a release.

Oramasionwu advocates for low-dead-space designs, like the integrated needle or the cone-shaped plunger to become industry standards.

UNC and RTI researchers found that the median value of the wasted medicine per dose for the high-dead-space syringes was $5 and about 50 cents for low-dead-space syringes.

Over the course of a year, the cost range of medicine for high-dead-space syringes would range from $558 to $2,329 compared to $68 to $205 for low-dead-space syringes.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Reports More Than $17 Million in Direct Economic Impact from Savannah Bananas Visit
According to a release from UNC, the recent visit from the Savannah Bananas to Chapel Hill generated an estimated $17.1 million.
A Place to Connect and Heal: UNC Holds Annual Community Walk for Suicide Prevention
On Saturday, community members and college students alike met on UNC’s campus for a mile-long walk to destigmatize suicide prevention.
'Together is The Only Path Forward': Orange County's Habitat for Humanity Hosts Affordable Housing Summit
Amid a shortage of affordable housing – both locally and nationally – the Orange County chapter of Habitat for Humanity recently held a summit to discuss how leaders can collectively aim to better address the issue.
Chapel Hill Alerts Residents To Upcoming S. Columbia Road Closure
The Town of Chapel Hill announced that a section of S. Columbia St. will be closed as UNC conducts maintenance on its steam tunnel system.
Equity in Health Care - December 11, 2025
What is the state of health care today, both nationally and here in our community? And what needs to be done to address disparities?
Multiple UNC Football Players Facing Reckless Driving Charges
Several UNC football players are facing charges of reckless driving, speeding and other violations. An investigation by WRAL, originally published Monday afternoon, reported that “nearly 20 percent” of UNC’s 101-man roster has been cited for speeding since October of 2024. The investigation named three specific players: linebacker Khmori House, safety Gavin Gibson and cornerback Thaddeus […]
Parking, Parties and Team History: What to Know Ahead of Mexico vs. Türkiye Soccer in Chapel Hill
The men's national soccer teams of Mexico and Türkiye will meet in Chapel Hill Tuesday for a friendly. Here's what to know before you go.
Police: UNC Student Victim of Carjacking in W. Franklin Street Parking Deck
Chapel Hill Police are investigating the carjacking of a UNC student that took place early Saturday morning. No injuries are reported.
Honoring Chapel Hill's Black Builders: UNC Landmarks and the Local Faces Who Built Them
Maps are storytellers, but they can exclude certain narratives. Fowota Mortoo said that’s the case for Chapel Hill’s Black builders.
No More Coal? Chapel Hill Prepares for Hearing on UNC's Co-Gen Plant and Potential New Fuel Source
Chapel Hill Town Hall will host a hearing on Thursday to take comments on a potential alternative fuel source for UNC's cogeneration plant.
›