Purpose: A recently developed ranibizumab prefilled syringe (PFS) eliminates several preparatory steps versus the standard vial-based method, and is expected to reduce syringe preparation time (SPT) and enhance procedural simplicity for intravitreal injections.
Methods: Syringe preparation times for the ranibizumab PFS and vial were recorded during standard treatment sessions at 2 centers, without randomization. The duration of each step in preparing the syringe was recorded. At each center, total SPT (mean total duration of all syringe preparation steps) for each method was compared using a 2-tailed t test.
Results: In total, 97 SPTs were analyzed across both centers. Center 1 SPTs were 46 seconds (PFS) versus 75 seconds (vial; difference, 29 seconds; p<0.001). Center 2 SPTs were 46 seconds (PFS) versus 63 seconds (vial; difference, 17 seconds; p<0.001). This equates to a 27%-39% reduction in SPT when using the PFS rather than the vial, resulting mostly from the reduced number of syringe preparation steps associated with the PFS.
Conclusions: Syringe preparation times for ranibizumab intravitreal injections are significantly shorter with the PFS than with the vial. The time saved by using the PFS may benefit physicians and nurses, and the simplicity of the injection preparation process with the PFS is advantageous.