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General product and use information from public regulator and manufacturer sources. This is not medical advice and not a procedure guide; follow your facility’s policies and the manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU).
Short answer
“Clave” is a product name used by ICU Medical for its needlefree IV connectors, and people often use “IV clave” or “medical clave” as a generic word for any needleless connector: the valve fitted to the end of IV tubing or a catheter hub that is accessed with a syringe or tubing instead of a needle. The CDC’s intravascular catheter guideline recommends needleless systems for accessing IV tubing and says to change the connectors no more often than every 72 hours, or as the manufacturer recommends.
Definition and scope
A needleless connector is a valve-type fitting on an intravascular line that lets staff connect a syringe or administration set without a needle. The CDC says needleless systems were introduced as part of efforts to reduce sharps injuries and the bloodborne-infection risk to healthcare personnel (CDC/HICPAC, Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections, 2011, last updated October 2017).
The search terms around this topic mix a brand with a product category:
- Clave, clave medical, claves medical, medical clave, ICU Medical Clave: the brand. ICU Medical’s Clave page describes the range as needlefree IV connector technology and lists MicroClave Clear, Clave Neutron and NanoClave variants.
- Needleless (needlefree) connector: the generic category, which includes connectors from other makers.
US regulation does not use the word “needleless” in the device definition. 21 CFR 880.5440 defines an intravascular administration set as a device used to administer fluids from a container to a patient’s vascular system, and lists connectors between parts of the set among its components. It is a Class II device with special controls (eCFR).
How it is used in practice
Practice is set by facility policy and the IFU, not by this page. The CDC guideline recommendations on the needleless system itself, with their evidence categories, are:
- Use a needleless system to access IV tubing (Category IC).
- Change needleless components at least as often as the administration set, with no benefit to changing them more often than every 72 hours (Category II).
- Change needleless connectors no more often than every 72 hours, or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (Category II).
- Make sure all system components are compatible, to minimise leaks and breaks (Category II).
The CDC also addresses disinfection of connector access ports before use. For how caps and disinfection relate to connectors, see the CASRAI guide on disinfecting caps.
Types and related concepts
The CDC background section describes the main design classes. The table summarises that section.
| Design class | What the CDC says |
|---|---|
| Split septum, accessed with a blunt cannula (external-cannula activated) | The first type of needleless connector. Removing the cannula may create negative pressure that aspirates blood into the distal lumen, which may increase the risk of occlusion or thrombosis. |
| Luer-activated device with a valve | Designed to prevent fluid outflow through the connector. Some need a cap when not in use, which can be hard to keep aseptic. |
| Positive or neutral fluid displacement (second generation) | Intended to flush out aspirated blood or prevent its aspiration into the catheter. |
On Clave variants, ICU Medical states that MicroClave Clear and Clave Neutron are neutral-displacement designs, and that NanoClave is intended for manifolds and stopcocks with 0.02 mL residual volume. That claim is not made for every Clave product.
Related terms that are different things
A connector is not the same as an extension set, a Y-site or a T-connector. These CASRAI guides cover them: Y-site connectors, T-connectors and IV extension tubing. Fittings that join to a connector are covered in female luer lock fittings.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
Original comparison for supply teams: the points below are checks drawn from the CDC guideline, the FDA regulation and the manufacturer’s warning. They are not a ranking of products.
| Check | Source statement |
|---|---|
| Compatibility of all system components | CDC recommends ensuring all components are compatible to minimise leaks and breaks. |
| Luer fit | ICU Medical warns that Clave connectors may be incompatible with some male-luer connectors, including prefilled glass syringes, and says to confirm that the mating luer internal diameter is between 0.062 in and 0.110 in. |
| Change interval | CDC: no more often than every 72 hours, or per the manufacturer’s recommendations. |
| Design class | CDC: a split septum valve may be preferred over some mechanical valves because of an increased infection risk reported with mechanical valves (Category II). It also says outbreak reports followed switches from split septum to mechanical valve devices, and that it is not known whether the cause is specific to a device or to the class. |
| Regulatory class | Intravascular administration sets are Class II under 21 CFR 880.5440. |
For the wider range of consumables that sit around a connector, see the CASRAI overview of IV supplies.
Common misunderstandings
- “Clave” means any needleless connector. It is one manufacturer’s product name. Other makers sell needleless connectors, and the CDC notes that physical and mechanical properties vary from device to device.
- More frequent changes are safer. The CDC found no benefit to changing connectors more often than every 72 hours, and says to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- A needleless connector is a closed, self-cleaning port. The CDC guideline still treats the access port as a contamination risk and addresses disinfection in its recommendations; facility policy and the IFU govern the method.
- Newer valve types are proven safer. The CDC reports mixed findings, including both increases and a decrease in bloodstream infections after switches between mechanical valve types.
FAQ
What is an IV clave?
It is a common way of referring to a needlefree IV connector. Clave is the ICU Medical product name; the generic term is needleless connector.
Is a medical clave the same as a Y-site?
No. A needleless connector is the valve fitted to a line, while a Y-site is an injection point on an administration set. See the Y-site guide for how the two relate.
How often are needleless connectors changed?
The CDC says no more often than every 72 hours, or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Your facility policy and the IFU govern the actual interval.
What does “ICU Medical Clave” refer to?
It refers to the manufacturer’s line of connectors, including MicroClave Clear, Clave Neutron and NanoClave, according to the manufacturer’s product page.
Sources
- CDC/HICPAC, Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections (2011), last update October 2017, section “Needleless Intravascular Catheter Systems”; checked 2026-11-02.
- eCFR, 21 CFR 880.5440, Intravascular administration set; checked 2026-11-02.
- ICU Medical, Clave needlefree IV connector technology (manufacturer product page); checked 2026-11-02.
