INTRAMUSCULAR (IM)**

Location of Injection
Needle
Length
Needle
Gauge
Needle
Angle
Pediatric
Infants < 18 months Vasus latera||s rusc|e (
_ <
0.5 rL vol.) 7/8' 1" 25 27 G 90
C|||d|eu
(>18 rou|s aud wa|||u
o 18 years)
0e|o|d rusc|e
Veu|o|uea| s|e
0o|so|uea| s|e-uo
|ecorreuded o| <3 years
Vasus latera||s muscle
7/8' 1 1/4" 22 25 G 90
Adult > 18 years
0e|o|d muscle, veu|o|uea| site
ra, be bes s|e o| cac|ec|c adults
0o|so|uea| s|e-
a.o|d |u obese adults
Vasus latera||s muscle
1' 1 1/2'
(up o 3' o|
|a|e adults)
19 25 G 90
Intramuscular Injection Guidelines
for Needle Length and Gauge Selection
*
' /daped |or fuudareua|s o Nursing. Furau Fea|| aud Function, R. Craven, C. Hirnle, 4| ed. L|pp|uco w||||ars 8 w||||us 2003
'' l||o| o adr|u|se||u au lV injection, |ee| o ,ou| p|ocedu|e rauua| o dee|r|ue |e |ujec|ou s|e u|||.|u bod, landmarks.
ISO Hub Color Standards for safety-engineered needles
30 G 27 G 24 G 23 G 21 G 20 G 19 G 18 G 26 G 25 G 22 G 29 G 28 G
BDSAF-InjQRCRP-8795.indd 1 3/15/12 12:02 PM
Intramuscular (IM) Injection Guidelines:
Injection Route: Injection Sites:
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The vastus lateralis
site is in the lateral
middle third of the
thigh between the
greater trochanter
and the knee.
When injecting, lift
the vastus lateralis
muscle away from
the bone.
Greater
trochanter
of femur
Lateral
femoral
condyle
e l d d i m
d r i h t
s u t s a v f o
lateralis
muscle
Injection
Site
The dorsogluteal site is
above an imaginary line
between the greater trochanter and the posterior
superior iliac crest. The injection is administered
laterally and superior to this imaginary line.
The ventrogluteal site: place the palm
over the greater trochanter, form a V, with
the middle finger toward the iliac crest and
the index finger toward the anterior superior
iliac spine. Inject within the center of the
V, below the anterior superior iliac crest.
The thickest part of the deltoid muscle
is 2.5-5cm (1-3 finger breadths) below the
lower edge of acromion process of the
scapula over the midaxillary line.
dermis
subcutaneous
tissue
muscle
0 90 9
Spread the skin taut,
(except in vastus lateralis
which requires lifting the
muscle) and insert the
needle at a 90 angle.
Pull back plunger
slightly. If blood appears,
remove needle, dispose
properly and prepare
a new injection.
If no blood is present
inject medication slowly.
Greater
trochanter
Anterior
superior iliac
spine
Iliac crest
Injection
Site
Posterior
superior
iliac spine
Greater
trochanter
Injection
Site
Imaginary line
Injection
Procedure:
Injection
Site
Humerus
Axilla
Scapula
Acromion
process
Clavicle
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