Description
The BD Vacutainer® Eclipse™ Blood Collection Needle with Preattached Holder is a premium, safety-engineered blood collection needle designed for reliable, accurate venepuncture and vacuum blood sampling. Featuring a 21G x 1.25" (0.8mm x 32mm) needle and a preattached integrated Vacutainer holder, this needle-holder combination delivers a secure, stable grip for efficient single-handed blood draw — no separate holder required.
The Eclipse safety shield provides passive needle retraction after blood collection, significantly reducing the risk of accidental needlestick injury to healthcare professionals. Each pack contains 50 individually packaged sterile needles with preattached holders, ready for immediate use. BD product reference 368650, manufacturer code VS368650.
Who Are These Needles For?
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NHS Phlebotomy Departments — high-volume routine blood collection and venepuncture clinics
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GP Surgeries & Health Centres — blood tests and diagnostic sampling
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Hospital Wards & Outpatient Departments — blood sampling for diagnostics, monitoring, and clinical assessment
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Blood Donation Centres — donor blood collection procedures
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Community & District Nursing — home visit blood draws requiring portable, safe needle solutions
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Occupational Health & Screening Clinics — health screening, pre-employment, and monitoring blood tests
Clinical Use Cases
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Routine Venepuncture: Standard blood draw for diagnostic testing, monitoring, and clinical investigations
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Vacuum Blood Collection: Compatible with BD Vacutainer blood collection tubes for closed-system, multi-tube blood sampling
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Paediatric & Geriatric Sampling: 21G gauge suitable for adults with accessible veins; paired with appropriate tube selection for lower-volume draws
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Occupational Screening: Fast, reliable blood draw in high-throughput occupational health settings
Product Specifications
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Brand: BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
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Product Reference: 368650
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Manufacturer Code (MPN): VS368650
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SKU: 368650
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Needle Gauge: 21G (0.8mm)
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Needle Length: 1.25" (32mm)
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Colour: Green (21G standard colour coding)
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Holder: Preattached BD Vacutainer holder — integrated, no separate holder required
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Safety Feature: Eclipse passive needle retraction shield
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Sterility: Sterile, single-use
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Pack Size: 50 needles with preattached holders
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Compatible With: BD Vacutainer blood collection tubes (all standard sizes)
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VAT: Zero-rated (medical needles are VAT-exempt in the UK)
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Supplied by: Charles Medical, UK
Key Features
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Eclipse Passive Safety Shield: Needle retracts passively after use — significantly reduces needlestick injury risk for healthcare professionals
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Preattached Vacutainer Holder: Integrated holder eliminates need for separate holder procurement; provides secure, stable grip during blood draw
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21G x 1.25" Gauge: The most widely used gauge for routine adult venepuncture — balances patient comfort with efficient blood flow rates
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Green Colour Coding: 21G international colour standard — instant gauge identification at the point of care
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Closed-System Compatible: Works with BD Vacutainer tubes for hygienic, closed-system multi-tube blood sampling
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Sterile Single-Use: Individually wrapped for guaranteed sterility; eliminates cross-contamination risk
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BD Quality Assurance: Manufactured by BD, a global leader in medical devices; meets all relevant EU and UK MDR standards
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VAT-Exempt: Zero-rated for VAT in the UK as a qualifying medical device
Why Buy from Charles Medical?
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UK Stock: Dispatched from UK warehouse — no long international lead times
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Genuine BD Product: Authentic BD Vacutainer Eclipse needles — not compatible alternatives
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NHS & Procurement Orders: Contact us for volume pricing for phlebotomy departments and NHS trusts
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Fast Dispatch: Orders processed promptly with tracked UK delivery
What's in the Pack?
- 50 × BD Vacutainer Eclipse Blood Collection Needles 21G 1.25", individually wrapped, with preattached Vacutainer holder
Directions for Use
- Select appropriate BD Vacutainer blood collection tubes for the required tests
- Apply tourniquet to the patient’s arm approximately 7–10cm proximal to the intended venepuncture site
- Clean the venepuncture site with an appropriate antiseptic wipe and allow to dry
- Remove the needle assembly from sterile packaging immediately before use
- Remove the needle cap and perform venepuncture using standard phlebotomy technique
- Insert the first BD Vacutainer tube into the holder and allow vacuum to draw blood; change tubes as required following correct order of draw
- Release the tourniquet and remove the final tube before withdrawing the needle
- Activate the Eclipse safety shield immediately after needle withdrawal to cover the needle tip
- Dispose of the used needle assembly in an appropriate sharps container in accordance with local clinical waste guidelines
- Do not resheath or reuse the needle
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BD Vacutainer Eclipse needle?
The BD Vacutainer Eclipse is a safety blood collection needle featuring a passive eclipse shield that automatically covers the needle tip after withdrawal from the vein. This passive safety mechanism significantly reduces the risk of accidental needlestick injury to healthcare professionals without requiring any additional activation step.
What gauge is this needle?
This needle is 21 gauge (21G), which corresponds to a needle diameter of 0.8mm. 21G is the most commonly used gauge for routine adult blood collection, providing an effective balance between patient comfort, adequate blood flow rate, and minimal haemolysis. Green is the internationally recognised colour coding for 21G needles.
Does this needle come with a holder?
Yes. This version of the BD Vacutainer Eclipse features a preattached integrated Vacutainer holder. No separate holder is required — simply remove from packaging and use directly. This saves preparation time and reduces the number of components required at the point of care.
Is this needle compatible with BD Vacutainer tubes?
Yes. The BD Vacutainer Eclipse needle with preattached holder is compatible with the full range of BD Vacutainer blood collection tubes, including EDTA, lithium heparin, serum, fluoride oxalate, and all other standard Vacutainer tube types.
Is the BD Vacutainer Eclipse needle single-use?
Yes. This needle is designed for single-use only. Reuse of blood collection needles poses a serious infection risk and is contrary to clinical guidelines and UK healthcare regulations. Dispose of after each use in an appropriate sharps container.
Are these needles VAT-exempt?
Yes. Blood collection needles are zero-rated for VAT in the United Kingdom as qualifying medical devices. No VAT is charged on this product.
How many needles are in a pack?
Each pack contains 50 BD Vacutainer Eclipse blood collection needles with preattached holders, individually wrapped and sterile. BD product reference 368650.
Can I order in bulk for my phlebotomy department or NHS trust?
Yes. Charles Medical supplies NHS trusts, phlebotomy departments, GP surgeries, and procurement teams with bulk orders of BD Vacutainer products and phlebotomy consumables. Contact us directly for volume pricing and account terms.
What is the BD product reference for this needle?
The BD product reference is 368650 and the manufacturer code (MPN) is VS368650. These references can be used when ordering through NHS procurement systems or referencing the product in formulary documentation.
