his
device is a sharps container
which is small enough to carry in a purse or laptop computer bag.
Each sharps container is a white plastic box
about 6 inches long
x 1 5/8" wide x 7/8" deep, plus
a separate lid, described as
a reversible "Safe-Lock Lid." This lid has two different ways to attach to the box: a plain side, or
a locking side that has four plastic tabs.
When using the lid as a temporary closure, you use the lid's plain side, which
easily pushes onto the box and just as easily pops off again, as it's just a friction-fit.
Later, when the box is full, the same lid is then attached
permanently to the box for disposal of the device, using the side of the lid that has the
four plastic tabs
to lock the lid onto the box.
The side of the lid with the plastic tabs is very difficult to push on and lock in place, which would make it less likely to accidentally lock it on prematurely.
Once it's successfully locked into place, the lid is clearly on and won't accidentally come off. (Note, however, I could
pry it off with a very strong grasp on the box, and my thumb and fingers on opposite sides of the lid. By doing this, I broke off two of the four locking tabs, and the lid then popped off the two remaining tabs.)
Not shown in the photos is a very prominent "Biohazard" Warning label sticker that occupies one entire side of the box.
On the other side of the box, which appears plain white in the company's photos reproduced here, there's a three-dimensional white-on-white biohazard symbol.
Disposable pen-needle's holder (lying sideways in this photo) won't fit
The container easily holds standard insulin syringes, lancets, blood glucose strips, and/or the disposable needles from insulin pens. However, I found that the opening was a bit too small to fit the pen-needle's original holder. Of course, the holder isn't an
infection risk, and isn't sharp, so I throw them into the trash anyway.
The box is
described as puncture-resistant, not puncture-proof. Jabbing the side of the box with one blade of a sharp sissors dented the box slightly; placing the box on the floor and jabbing
vigorously did break through but didn't allow the contents to be extracted.
MEDport's website is www.medportllc.com.
The website includes a listing of
State By State Regulations On Safe Needle Disposal.
The webpage doesn't display the dates of the information that's provided, but sometimes has links directly to state publications.
(Another very similar or perhaps idential listing is available at
State Disposal Laws
at SafeNeedleDisposal.org.)
Availability
The devices are sold in cardboard boxes containing either six or twelve units.
I couldn't locate these at several of the websites mentioned at the manufacturer's website
(insulincase.com, CVS, Wal*Mart), but it is for sale at
American Diabetes Wholesale
for $8.99 for 12
and
FIFTY50
for $8.95 for 12.
Amazon
states they are "temporarily out of stock," but quotes a price of $7.95 for 12.
I haven't looked in stores yet.
Conclusion
I think this device is worth using if you need a very portable disposal gadget; for example,
at work or when traveling. Whether to use it at home compared to bigger and bulkier disposal systems
(big red biohazard containers, hard plastic containers such as detergent bottles, or sealable metal containers such as empty coffee cans)
would be a personal choice.
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