The three kinds of 1 mL syringe
A 1 mL syringe is defined by its capacity, not its scale: BD makes 1 mL syringes with 0.01 mL, U-40 or U-100 graduations,[1] and 1 mL is the same volume as 1 cc.[6]
| Scale | Smallest line | Full barrel reads | Typical name |
|---|---|---|---|
| mL (0.01 mL) | 0.01 mL | 1 (mL) | Tuberculin or low-dose syringe |
| U-100 units | 1 or 2 units (0.01–0.02 mL) | 100 units | 100 unit insulin syringe |
| U-40 units | 1 unit (0.025 mL) | 40 units | U-40 (veterinary) insulin syringe |
BD notes that low-dose syringes make it easier to measure a small dose accurately, and offers its 1 mL Plastipak syringes with 25G to 30G needles or without a needle.[1]
How to read a 1 mL syringe
Find what one line is worth, then read at the front edge of the plunger tip. On an mL-scale 1 mL syringe each line is 0.01 mL, with numbers every 0.1 mL; BD lists its tuberculin syringe with a 0.01 mL scale.[2] On a U-100 syringe each line is 1 or 2 units, depending on the model.[3]
mL scale · 0.35 mL
U-100 scale · the same volume reads 35 units
1 mL syringe chart: mL and units
On a U-100 scale, 1 unit is 0.01 mL;[5] on a U-40 scale, 1 unit is 0.025 mL.
| mL (cc) | U-100 units | U-40 units |
|---|---|---|
| 0.01 mL | 1 | 0.4 |
| 0.05 mL | 5 | 2 |
| 0.1 mL | 10 | 4 |
| 0.15 mL | 15 | 6 |
| 0.2 mL | 20 | 8 |
| 0.25 mL | 25 | 10 |
| 0.3 mL | 30 | 12 |
| 0.4 mL | 40 | 16 |
| 0.5 mL | 50 | 20 |
| 0.6 mL | 60 | 24 |
| 0.75 mL | 75 | 30 |
| 1 mL | 100 | 40 |
1 cc syringe vs 1 mL syringe
A 1 cc syringe and a 1 mL syringe are the same size; “cc” is an older way of writing the same volume.[6] The cc to mL page covers the conversion and why “cc” is discouraged.
Common 1 mL syringe mistakes
- Grabbing the wrong scale. In 2024 ISMP reported a close call in which a 1 mL U-100 insulin syringe and a 1 mL syringe with mL markings came in nearly identical packaging.[7]
- Reading 35 as 0.35 or the reverse. On an mL scale the number is the volume; on a U-100 scale it is units. Write the unit next to every reading.
- Counting 2-unit lines as 1 unit. Check the line value first; see the 100 unit insulin syringe.
Which 1 mL syringe to useInsulin should be measured with an insulin syringe of the matching scale. For other liquids, your prescriber or pharmacist chooses the syringe.
Frequently asked questions
How many cc is a 1 mL syringe?
1 cc. A millilitre and a cubic centimetre are the same volume.
How many units is a 1 mL syringe?
100 units on a U-100 insulin syringe or 40 units on a U-40 syringe. An mL-scale syringe is marked 0 to 1 mL instead of units.
How do you read a 1 mL syringe?
Check whether it is marked in mL or units, find what one line is worth, then read at the front edge of the plunger tip.
Is a 1 mL syringe the same as a tuberculin syringe?
A tuberculin syringe is one kind of 1 mL syringe: the kind marked in 0.01 mL lines.
Sources
- BD Plastipak 3-piece syringe product family
- BD SafetyGlide tuberculin syringe, 1 mL (product 305945)
- Technical data sheet: insulin syringes (Micro-Fine, Ultra-Fine)
- 7. Diabetes technology: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022
- Giving an insulin injection
- SI units: volume
- Medication Safety Alert! Acute Care: insulin dosing error close call due to look-alike syringe packaging