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16G Sterile Syringe Needles – 10 Pack | Luer Lock Needles for Liquid Culture
16G Sterile Syringe Needles FAQ
What is included in each pack?
Each pack contains:
10 individually wrapped 16G sterile syringe needles
Protective needle caps
Single-use sterile packaging
Syringes, liquid cultures and other inoculation supplies are not included unless purchased separately.
What are 16G sterile syringe needles used for?
16G needles are commonly used for:
Injecting mushroom liquid culture
Inoculating sterilised grain bags
Transferring liquid culture between sterile containers
Withdrawing liquid culture from culture jars
Working with self-healing injection ports
Handling thicker or heavily colonised liquid cultures
Their wider internal diameter allows dense liquid culture and larger pieces of mycelium to pass through more easily.
What does 16G mean?
The “16G” refers to the gauge of the needle.
A 16G needle has a wider internal diameter than an 18G Sterile Syringe Needle. This makes it particularly useful for thick liquid cultures that may have difficulty passing through a narrower needle.
Are the needles supplied sterile?
Yes. Each needle is supplied sterile and individually wrapped.
Keep the needle sealed inside its packaging until immediately before use. Do not use it if the packaging is open, wet, punctured or otherwise damaged.
Once opened, the needle should be treated as a single-use item.
Are 16G needles suitable for mushroom liquid culture?
Yes. Their wider bore makes them especially suitable for mushroom liquid cultures containing dense mycelium.
They can be used with cultures from our complete range of Mushroom Liquid Cultures.
Shake or gently mix the liquid culture before use, where appropriate, to help distribute the mycelium evenly.
What is the difference between 16G and 18G needles?
The main difference is the internal diameter.
16G needles have a wider bore and are better suited to thick or heavily colonised liquid culture.
18G needles have a narrower bore and provide more controlled flow for standard liquid cultures.
Both sizes are suitable for general mycology inoculation. The best option depends on the thickness of the culture and the user’s preferred flow rate.
Can these needles be used to inoculate grain bags?
Yes. A 16G needle can be used to inject liquid culture through the self-healing injection port of a sterilised grain bag.
Our 2 kg Sterilised Wheat Grain Bag is fully prepared and fitted with an injection port for easy inoculation.
Clean the port before use and allow the disinfectant to dry before inserting the needle.
Can these needles be used with self-healing injection ports?
Yes. They are suitable for use with our Self-Healing Injection Ports.
Insert the needle carefully through the centre of the silicone port. Remove it in a straight motion after inoculation to avoid damaging or enlarging the puncture.
How should I attach the needle to a syringe?
To attach the needle:
Confirm that the sterile packaging is intact.
Open the packaging carefully.
Hold the needle by the plastic hub.
Attach it securely to the compatible syringe fitting.
Keep the protective cap in place until immediately before inoculation.
Avoid touching the metal needle, syringe tip or other sterile connection points.
Are the needles reusable?
No. These needles are intended for single use.
Reusing a needle increases the risk of contamination, cross-contamination and accidental injury. Use a fresh sterile needle for each unrelated culture or inoculation project.
Do I need to flame sterilise a new needle?
A newly opened needle is already sterile and does not normally need to be flame sterilised before its first use.
Flame sterilising a previously used needle does not restore the original packaged sterility. For best contamination control, replace used needles with fresh sterile ones.
Can I inject through a syringe filter?
No. Syringe filters are designed for filtered gas exchange and should not be pierced.
Insert the needle through the self-healing injection port only. Keep the membrane of any 13 mm 0.22 Micron Syringe Filter intact.
What should I do if the needle becomes blocked?
Do not force the syringe plunger, as this may cause the needle to detach or release liquid suddenly.
Instead:
Withdraw the needle safely
Replace it with a fresh sterile needle
Mix the liquid culture more thoroughly if appropriate
Check whether the syringe contains unusually large clumps of mycelium
Avoid returning a used needle to the original culture container
How should used needles be disposed of?
Place used needles immediately into an approved sharps container or another suitable puncture-resistant container.
Do not place loose needles directly into household rubbish or recycling. Follow your local authority’s guidance for the disposal of sharps.
How should unused needles be stored?
Store unused needles:
Inside their sealed sterile packaging
In a clean, dry location
Away from direct sunlight and moisture
Protected from damaged or crushed packaging
Away from children and animals
Do not use any needle with compromised packaging.
Where are the 16G sterile syringe needles shipped from?
Each order contains 10 individually wrapped sterile 16G syringe needles, carefully packed and shipped directly from Ireland.
Fast shipping is available to customers across Ireland, the UK, Europe, the United States and Canada.
