During an intradermal injection, the needle bevel should face which direction?

During an intradermal injection, the needle bevel should face which direction?

• A. Bevel facing downwards
• B. Bevel facing upwards toward the skin surface
• C. Bevel parallel to the skin
• D. Bevel facing away from the skin

Answer: (B)

In intradermal injections, place the needle so the bevel faces upward toward the skin surface. This orientation allows the bevel edge to cut into the dermal tissue cleanly and keeps most of the medication in the superficial dermis, which helps form a small wheal. If the bevel faced downward or remained parallel to the skin, the needle would enter more bluntly or direct the drug deeper, increasing tissue trauma and the risk of injecting into subcutaneous tissue rather than the dermis. Facing away from the skin would misalign the entry and hinder proper deposition.

In intradermal injections, place the needle so the bevel faces upward toward the skin surface. This orientation allows the bevel edge to cut into the dermal tissue cleanly and keeps most of the medication in the superficial dermis, which helps form a small wheal. If the bevel faced downward or remained parallel to the skin, the needle would enter more bluntly or direct the drug deeper, increasing tissue trauma and the risk of injecting into subcutaneous tissue rather than the dermis. Facing away from the skin would misalign the entry and hinder proper deposition.