Needle and Syringe Use

Any researcher who purchases controlled substances including hypodermic needles and syringes and prescription drugs must be licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Health. (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 94C,Section 27, and Regulations 105 CMR 700.  See the UMass Laboratory Health and Safety Manual, Chapter 9, Handling and Disposal of Chemicals, Controlled Substances. http://www.ehs.umass.edu/lhs.html#N_9_

If the intended purpose of the purchase does not involve the administration of prescription drugs, the appropriate license is the one entitled “Application for License to Obtain, Receive, or Purchase Hypodermic Needles or any Instrument Adapted for the Administration of Controlled Substances by Injection”.  Application forms can be obtained from Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Food and Drugs.  The current contact person is Ann O'Brien at (617) 983-6717.

It is not necessary to have every faculty member in a single department licensed.  One person in the department can be licensed and multiple people can use that license number for ordering hypodermic needles/syringes.  This is a personal license and not an institutional license so be aware that the person receiving the license is assuming responsibility for ordering on that license and following the requirements specified by the law.

For more information contact Hilary Woodcock at
(413) 577-0387.

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