When administering a subcutaneous injection, the amount of the dose should not exceed

When administering a subcutaneous injection, the amount of the dose should not exceed

• A. 0.5 cc
• B. 1 cc
• C. 2 cc
• D. 2.5 cc

Answer: (C)

Subcutaneous tissue beneath the skin has limited capacity to hold fluid, and absorption through this tissue is slower and more variable than in muscle. Keeping the injected volume at about two milliliters or less helps prevent distending the tissue, reduces pain and leakage, and lowers the chance that the solution will be forced into deeper tissues where absorption would be different. Doses larger than this upper limit can lead to poor absorption, greater local discomfort, and potential tissue damage. While many medications and vaccines are given in smaller amounts (often 0.5–1 mL), the practical upper bound for a single subcutaneous injection is two milliliters; larger doses should be split across sites or given by another route if appropriate.

Subcutaneous tissue beneath the skin has limited capacity to hold fluid, and absorption through this tissue is slower and more variable than in muscle. Keeping the injected volume at about two milliliters or less helps prevent distending the tissue, reduces pain and leakage, and lowers the chance that the solution will be forced into deeper tissues where absorption would be different. Doses larger than this upper limit can lead to poor absorption, greater local discomfort, and potential tissue damage. While many medications and vaccines are given in smaller amounts (often 0.5–1 mL), the practical upper bound for a single subcutaneous injection is two milliliters; larger doses should be split across sites or given by another route if appropriate.