How to Detect When a Luer Fitting Is Connected

With the advent of Universal Precautions and the AIDS epidemic, needle-less technology was developed for health care. In the mid-1980s, plastics companies set out to provide a safer way to access and connect lines carrying blood, gases and other fluids. Luer technology has been a boon to the medical practitioner, virtually eliminating needle-stick injuries. Luer adapters generally utilize male-to-female connection technology. To verify a properly connected luer fitting involves observation and leak detection.

Things You'll Need

• 30 cc vial of sterile water or saline
• Luer tip syringe
• Medical gloves

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Instructions

• 1

  Pick up the line you wish to check. There are two main categories of luer fittings, lock luers and slip luers. Female lock luers utilize lugs or threads that engage with threads on the male lock luers. Slip luers utilize the luer taper to provide a secure friction connection; the 6% taper on a male luer engages with the female luer 6% taper. When the luer components are connected, a quick tug of the line on both sides of the fitting will not disconnect them. More importantly, the connected lines will function without leaking. Leak testing, done with air and fluids, is the industry standard for proving connection quality.

• 2

  Run a leak test. Using a sterile fluid to prevent contamination, run the liquid through the component within the line. Fluid can be instilled using a luer tip syringe or, if the line is already connected to an intravenous delivery system, fluid can be delivered using that device. If fluid runs through the luer connection without dripping or weeping, the luer fitting is connected properly. If the luer connection leaks, it is faulty and cannot be used without further intervention.

• 3

  Inspect the leaking parts, while wearing clean medical gloves, after you disconnect them. Check to see that you have the correct male and female fittings. Female lock luers have a small flange at the end or threads that connect with the male lock luers. Male lock luers have a cylindrical protuberance in the center which the fluid runs through. Slip luers have a tapered connection; the male 6% taper protrudes while the female 6% taper accepts. Incompatible fittings will not engage properly, nor can different types of luer connectors be fitted together. A lock luer, for instance, will not connect to a slip luer. Gather compatible fittings from the supply area to create a secure connection.

• 4

  Connect the female luer to the male luer counterpart. With a lock luer type fitting, twist the female flange a half turn to secure it within the male fitting. Slip luers are connected by pressing the two together; friction holds the connection. You should know that fluid delivery and retrieval components also sometimes use male-to-male and female-to-female adapters which fit together with threads. The line's flow can now be retested to reveal a secure connection. Luer technology is used in hypodermic syringes as well as intravenous lines and access devices; the same leak test can be used to test those connections.