Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Syringe tip types are the four connection styles a syringe barrel can end in: Luer lock, concentric Luer-slip, eccentric Luer-slip and catheter tip. This page sets out what the manufacturer BD says each one is for, then places them in the FDA’s connector-standards context. It is written for clinic staff, buyers and students who need to tell the tip types apart. Who uses it: anyone who handles or specifies syringes. Checked 2026-10-30.
What a syringe tip is
The tip is the end of the syringe barrel where a needle, tubing or another device attaches. The tip design decides how that connection is made and held. For the barrel, plunger and other parts, see what a syringe is; this page goes deeper on the tip only.
BD lists four tip types on its Plastipak 3-piece syringe page, across a stated capacity range of 1 mL to 100 mL.
Types of syringe tips
The table uses BD’s own wording for the purpose of each tip. Every row comes from the BD Plastipak 3-piece syringe page (checked 2026-10-30).
| Tip type | What BD says it does | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Luer Lock | Designed to prevent disconnections, medication spills and/or air entry. | Built to resist coming apart. |
| Concentric Luer-Slip | Provides a friction-fit connection that requires you to push and twist the syringe tip into the needle hub. | Held by friction. |
| Eccentric Luer-Slip | Allows for lower angle of injection in closer proximity to the skin. | Tip sits off-centre, which allows a lower angle. |
| Catheter tip | Used for flushing catheters, gastrostomy tubes and other devices. | Made for tubing and devices, not for a standard needle hub. |
Luer lock vs Luer slip
Per BD, a Luer lock tip is designed to prevent disconnections, medication spills and/or air entry, while a Luer-slip tip makes a friction-fit connection that you push and twist into the needle hub. Put simply, the lock design is built to stay attached and the slip design is held by friction. For the matching hub side of a lock connection, see female Luer lock.
Eccentric vs concentric
Both are Luer-slip tips in BD’s list. BD describes the concentric version by its friction-fit connection and the eccentric version by what it allows: a lower angle of injection in closer proximity to the skin. For the needle that attaches to these tips, see hypodermic needle.
Catheter tip
BD states that a catheter tip is used for flushing catheters, gastrostomy tubes and other devices. It is a separate category in BD’s list, not a variant of the Luer lock or slip tips.
Standards and misconnection
The US Food and Drug Administration describes small-bore connectors as those with an opening of less than 8.5 millimeters. According to the FDA, standardized connector designs aim to physically prevent connections with devices used for other medical applications. The ISO 80369 series sets these designs, and the FDA’s page names these parts:
- ISO 80369-1:2016, general provisions
- ISO 80369-3:2016, enteral applications
- ISO 80369-6:2016, neuraxial applications
- ISO 80369-7, intravascular or hypodermic applications
The BD page does not cite a standard for its tip types, so this page does not attribute one to them. For the 10 mL size, see 10 mL syringes; for a dental-specific syringe, see dental syringes.
How to choose
Only the criteria the sources state are given here. BD ties each tip to a purpose: connection security for Luer lock, a push-and-twist friction fit for concentric Luer-slip, a lower injection angle for eccentric Luer-slip, and flushing catheters and gastrostomy tubes for the catheter tip. The FDA’s stated aim is that connectors should not fit devices meant for other applications. Product instructions for use govern any specific choice.
Safe use and handling basics
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for the specific syringe and the device it connects to. Each tip type is described by its manufacturer for a stated purpose, for example BD’s stated flushing use for the catheter tip.
Common mistakes
- Treating a catheter tip as interchangeable with a Luer tip. BD lists it as a separate type with its own purpose.
- Assuming slip and lock hold equally. BD describes the lock tip as designed to prevent disconnections and the slip tip as a friction fit.
Frequently asked questions
What are the types of syringe tips?
BD lists four: Luer Lock, concentric Luer-Slip, eccentric Luer-Slip and catheter tip (BD, checked 2026-10-30).
What is the difference between a Luer lock and a Luer slip tip?
BD says a Luer lock tip is designed to prevent disconnections, medication spills and/or air entry, and a Luer-slip tip is a friction-fit connection pushed and twisted into the needle hub.
What is an eccentric syringe tip?
An eccentric Luer-slip tip, which BD says allows a lower angle of injection in closer proximity to the skin.
Sources
- BD, BD Plastipak 3-piece syringe, checked 2026-10-30.
- US FDA, Reducing Risks through Standards Development for Medical Device Connectors, checked 2026-10-30.
