k the expiration date printed on the carton to make sure that the expiration date has not passed. Do not use if the expiration date has passed.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water. It is important to keep your work area, your hands and injection site clean to minimize the risk of infection.
Remove one vial of INTRON A solution from the carton.
Check the vial of INTRON A. The solution should be clear and colorless, without particles. Do not use the vial of INTRON A if the medicine is cloudy, has particles or is any color besides clear and colorless.
Remove the protective plastic cap from the top of the INTRON A vial. Clean the rubber stopper on the top of the INTRON A vial with an alcohol swab.
Gently warm the INTRON A solution by slowly rolling the vial in the palms of your hands for about one minute. DO NOT SHAKE.
Open the package for the syringe you are using and if it does not have a needle attached, then attach one of the needles you have obtained to the syringe.
Remove the protective cap from the needle of the syringe. Fill the syringe with air by pulling the plunger back to the mark on the syringe that matches the dose as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Hold the vial of INTRON A Solution for Injection on your flat working surface without touching the cleaned rubber stopper with your hands.
Insert the needle straight down through the middle of the rubber stopper of the vial containing the INTRON A solution. Slowly inject all the air from the syringe into the air space above the solution.
Keep the needle in the vial and turn the vial upside down. Make sure the tip of the needle is in the INTRON A solution. Slowly pull the plunger back to fill the syringe with INTRON A solution to the number (mL or cc) as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
With the needle in the vial, check the syringe for air bubbles. If there are any air bubbles, gently tap the syringe with your finger until the air bubbles rise to the top of the syringe. Slowly push the plunger up to remove the air bubbles. If you push solution back into the vial, slowly pull back on the plunger to again draw the correct dose as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Do not remove the needle from the vial. Lay the vial and syringe on its side on your flat work surface until you are ready to inject the INTRON A solution.
Choosing an Injection site
Based on your treatment, your healthcare provider will tell you if you should inject a dose of INTRON® A subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into the muscle). If it is too difficult for you to inject, ask someone who has been trained to give injections to help you.
FOR SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION
The best sites for injection are areas on your body with a layer of fat between skin and muscle such as:
the front of your middle thighs
the outer area of your upper arms
the abdomen, except around the navel
FOR INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION
The best sites for injection into your muscle are:
the front of the middle thighs
the upper arms
the upper outer areas of the buttocks
You should use a different site each time you inject INTRON® A to avoid soreness at any one site. Do not inject INTRON A into an area where the skin is irritated, red, bruised, infected or has scars, stretch marks or lumps.
Injecting the Dose of INTRON® A
1.
Clean the injection site with a new alcohol swab.
2.
Pick up the vial and syringe from your flat work surface. Remove the syringe and needle from the vial. Hold the syringe in the hand that you will use to inje
