How to Select the Right Types of Syringes

Hamilton syringes are the finest quality precision fluid measuring devices available. Top quality materials and skilled workmanship ensure Hamilton syringes consistently deliver the highest possible performance for reliable analyses. With proper care and handling, Hamilton syringes provide unsurpassed performance year after year.

This guide presents all the information needed to select the right syringe for your manual application.

Syringes and needles manufactured by Hamilton Company are intended for scientific research and laboratory use only. Hamilton lab syringe needles are not intended for human in vivo use.

How to Select the Right Syringe

Use our five-step guide to choose the ideal syringe for your application:

Step 1 — Syringe Type: Decide whether a Microliter or Gastight syringe is best for the application.
Step 2 — Syringe Series: Use the Syringe to Series Chart to determine the available syringe series in the volume range needed.
Step 3 — Series Description: Determine the most appropriate series, and the available volumes and terminations for that series.
Step 4 — Terminations: Determine the most suitable termination.
Step 5 — Needle Selection: Determine the most appropriate needle if a termination or application requires the selection of a specific needle.

Download the full Syringe Selection Guide (Includes Worksheet)

1. Syringe Types

Microliter Syringes — For Liquids

Microliter syringes incorporate a hand-fitted stainless steel plunger with a finely bored syringe barrel. These syringes are ideal for organic samples that are not prone to precipitation, crystallization or bonding with glass. Under the proper conditions, plunger wear is minimal and the life of a Microliter syringe is almost unlimited. Plungers for Microliter syringes cannot be interchanged or replaced if damaged.

Gastight Syringes — For Liquids and Gases

Gastight syringes have a precision-machined polymer plunger tip, often PTFE, which creates a leak-free seal. With the tight fit, the tip essentially wipes the interior of the syringe barrel free of sample. This feature is particularly useful with aqueous and low volatile organic samples. Replacement plunger assemblies are available for Gastight syringes.

2. Syringe Series

For accuracy and precision, the smallest dispensing volume for a given syringe should be greater than or equal to 10% of its total capacity.

Syringe Type	Delivery Volume	Syringe Series
Microliter Liquid Only	0.05 μL – 0.25 μL	7000 Series
	0.25 μL – 0.5 μL	600 Series
	0.5 μL – 5 μL	600, 700, 800, 7000 Series
	5 μL – 10 μL	700, 800 Series
	10 μL – 250 μL	700, 800 Series
	250 μL – 500 μL	700 Series
Gastight Gas/Liquid	1 μL – 100 μL	1700, 1800 Series
	100 μL – 250 μL	1000, 1700, 1800 Series
	250 μL – 500 μL	1000, 1700 Series
	500 μL – 50 mL	1000 Series
	50 mL – 100 mL	1000 Series and Super Syringe
	100 mL – 2L	Super Syringe

For a complete description of each series — including recommended use, available volumes, terminations, and accessories — download the full guide.

3. Series Descriptions

Microliter Syringes (0.05 µL – 500 µL Delivery Volume)

This type of syringe is for use with liquids and incorporates a stainless steel plunger that is individually fitted to its matching syringe barrel.

Series Name	Volume Range	Recommended Use	Available Terminations
600 Series	0.25 µL – 5 µL	Great for animal injections because one hand is free for manipulating the animal.	Removable Needle (RN)
700 Series	0.5 µL – 500 µL	Used for manual and automated GC and HPLC injections. Also used for everyday applications that require accurate measuring and dispensing of liquid.	Cemented Needle (N), Special Cemented Needle (SN), Removable Needle (RN), Luer Tip (LT)
800 Series	0.5 µL – 250 µL	Intended for applications where the plunger on a 700 series syringe might be bent. Excellent for novice users.	Cemented Needle (N), Removable Needle (RN)
7000 Series	0.05 µL – 5 µL	Used for manual and automated GC and HPLC injections, and everyday applications that require ultra-small measurements of liquid.	Knurled Hub (KH)

More Detail on the Microliter Syringe - Syringe Selection Guide

Gastight Syringes (1 µL – 100 mL Delivery Volume)

These syringes can be used with both liquids and gases. The precision-machined PTFE plunger tip creates a leak-free seal. The plungers are replaceable.

Series Name	Volume Range	Recommended Use	Available Terminations
1000 Series	100 µL – 100 mL	Ideal for manual and automated HPLC injections. Commonly used in syringe pumps and other liquid handling instrumentation.	LTN, LTSN, LT, RN, TLL, SL
1700 Series	1 µL – 500 µL	Excellent for manual and automated GC and HPLC injections. Commonly used in syringe pumps and other liquid handling instrumentation.	N, SN, LTN, LTSN, LT, RN, TLL, SL
1800 Series	1 µL – 250 µL	Intended for applications where the plunger on a 1700 series syringe might be bent.	Cemented Needle (N), Removable Needle (RN)
Super Syringe	50 mL – 2 L	Intended for sampling or transfer of gases. Designed primarily for air sampling, preparing gas standards, calibrating reservoirs and pneumographs.	PTFE Luer Lock (TLL), Tracheal Adapter

More Detail on the Gastight Syringe - Syringe Selection Guide

4. Terminations

Terminations are located at the end of the syringe barrel and function as the interface between the syringe and its mating connection such as the needle. Below is a listing of the most popular syringe terminations.

Termination Type	Description
Cemented Needle (N)	For low volume syringes. Needles are cemented into the glass barrel; dead volume limited to the internal volume of the needle. Not autoclavable.
Special Cemented Needle (SN)	Same as Cemented Needle but allows for a variety of user-defined gauges, lengths, and point styles.
Luer Tip Cemented Needle (LTN)	For mid volume syringes. Same as (N) with a Luer tip configuration.
Luer Tip Special Cemented Needle (LTSN)	Same as LTN but allows user-defined gauges, lengths, and point styles.
Luer Tip (LT)	Needles are removable and fit over a ground glass hub tapered as a male Luer. Accepts most hypodermic needles. Autoclavable when disassembled.
Removable Needle (RN)	Hamilton-specific design. Allows needle to seat precisely at the zero graduation mark. Users can select gauge, length, and point style. Autoclavable when disassembled.
Knurled Hub (KH)	Used exclusively on 7000 Series syringes. Handles up to 6,000 psig maximum injection pressure. Autoclavable when disassembled.
PTFE Luer Lock (TLL)	PTFE male Luer taper with nickel-plated brass locking hub. Used with diluters/dispensers, liquid handling applications, and manual operations. Autoclavable when disassembled (except 25 mL and greater syringes).
SampleLock™ (SL)	Incorporates an on/off syringe valve with RN needle. Used for headspace, environmental sample collection and storage, pre-pressurization of gaseous samples for GC analysis and sample spiking. Not autoclavable.

5. Needle Selection

Needle point styles range from blunt points for HPLC injections to conical points for penetrating vinyl and plastics. With most syringes, Hamilton provides a standard 51 mm (2 inches) needle of an appropriate gauge and point style. However, if your project requires a non-standard needle gauge or point style, Hamilton offers a wide variety of custom options.

Point Style		Description
Point Style 2		Sharp, beveled, curved, non-coring needle point recommended for septum penetration. Available gauges: 34 – 10.
Point Style 3		Blunt needle point for use with HPLC injection valves and for sample pipetting. Available gauges: 34 – 10.
Point Style 4		Standard 12° beveled needle point is recommended for life science applications. Available gauges: 34 – 10. Special point styles such as 30°, 45°, or any other angle are available upon request.
Point Style 5		Conical needle with side port for penetration of septa, thin-gauged vinyls and plastics without coring. Available gauges: 26s – 10.
Point Style AS		Special conical style needle point used on autosampler syringes the non-coring needle point is recommended for septum penetration. Available gauges: 26s – 10.

Needle gauge guidelines to keep in mind:

If the application requires septum penetrations do not choose a gauge smaller than 26 gauge or there will be an increased risk of bending the needle. Also avoid needles larger than 22 gauge to avoid coring the septum resulting in a clogged needle.
When choosing a needle gauge to connect to a small syringe it is critical to take into account the needle's dead volume. Selecting a needle with too large of a dead volume could make the syringe difficult to prime.
When the sample to be dispensed is viscous a small gauge needle (27 – 34) can make it difficult to aspirate sample into the syringe.

Gauge Index Table

	Nominal O.D.		Nominal I.D.		Wall Thickness		Volume
Gauge	Inch	mm*	Inch	mm*	Inch	mm*	µL/Inch
34	0.0060 – 0.0065	0.159	0.0015 – 0.0025	0.051	0.004	0.11	0.052
33	0.0080 – 0.0085	0.210	0.0035 – 0.0050	0.108	0.004	0.10	0.233
32	0.0090 – 0.0095	0.235	0.0035 – 0.0050	0.108	0.005	0.13	0.233
31	0.0100 – 0.0105	0.261	0.0045 – 0.0060	0.133	0.005	0.13	0.353
30	0.0120 – 0.0125	0.312	0.0055 – 0.0070	0.159	0.006	0.15	0.504
29	0.0130 – 0.0135	0.337	0.0065 – 0.0080	0.184	0.006	0.15	0.675
28	0.0140 – 0.0145	0.362	0.0065 – 0.0080	0.184	0.007	0.18	0.675
27	0.0160 – 0.0165	0.413	0.0075 – 0.0090	0.210	0.008	0.20	0.876
26s	0.0184 – 0.0189	0.474	0.0045 – 0.0055	0.127	0.014	0.35	0.322
26	0.0180 – 0.0185	0.464	0.0095 – 0.0110	0.260	0.008	0.20	1.349
25s	0.0200 – 0.0205	0.515	0.0055 – 0.0065	0.153	0.014	0.36	0.464
25	0.0200 – 0.0205	0.515	0.0095 – 0.0110	0.260	0.010	0.25	1.349
24	0.0220 – 0.0225	0.566	0.0115 – 0.0130	0.311	0.010	0.25	1.930
23s	0.0250 – 0.0255	0.642	0.0040 – 0.0051	0.116	0.021	0.53	0.268
23	0.0250 – 0.0255	0.642	0.0125 – 0.0140	0.337	0.012	0.30	2.266
22s	0.0280 – 0.0285	0.718	0.0055 – 0.0077	0.168	0.022	0.55	0.563
22	0.0280 – 0.0285	0.718	0.0155 – 0.0170	0.413	0.012	0.30	3.403
21	0.0320 – 0.0325	0.819	0.0195 – 0.0210	0.514	0.012	0.30	5.271
20	0.0355 – 0.0360	0.908	0.0230 – 0.0245	0.603	0.012	0.30	7.255
19	0.0415 – 0.0425	1.067	0.0255 – 0.0285	0.686	0.015	0.38	9.389
18	0.0495 – 0.0505	1.270	0.0315 – 0.0345	0.838	0.017	0.43	14.011
17	0.0575 – 0.0585	1.473	0.0405 – 0.0435	1.067	0.016	0.41	22.715
16	0.0645 – 0.0655	1.651	0.0455 – 0.0485	1.194	0.018	0.46	28.444
15	0.0715 – 0.0725	1.829	0.0525 – 0.0555	1.372	0.018	0.46	37.529
14	0.0820 – 0.0840	2.109	0.0610 – 0.0650	1.600	0.020	0.51	51.076
13	0.0940 – 0.0960	2.413	0.0690 – 0.0730	1.804	0.024	0.61	64.895
12	0.1080 – 0.110	2.769	0.0830 – 0.0870	2.159	0.024	0.61	93.000
11	0.1190 – 0.1210	3.048	0.0920 – 0.0960	2.388	0.026	0.66	113.728
10	0.1330 – 0.1350	3.404	0.1040 – 0.1080	2.693	0.028	0.71	144.641