An insulin syringe is calibrated for units of insulin, not milliliters.
To reduce the likelihood of dosage errors, insulin syringes are specifically designed and calibrated to measure insulin in units. According to reference material, insulin syringes are available in three sizes:
- 100 unit (1 mL)
- 50 unit (0.5 mL)
- 30 unit (0.3 mL)
The 100-unit syringe is sometimes referred to as a "standard" insulin syringe. Calibrating in units ensures more accurate insulin administration.
