Disposable medical syringes, with and without needles for injection, are available over the counter (without a prescription) at most pharmacies. For example, Walmart sells a 100-pack of syringes for insulin with ultra-fine point needles for less than $25.

Typically Walgreens pharmacies have a policy that syringes can only be sold to individuals who have a medication profile showing that they have a drug (like insulin) that must be injected. Syringes and hypodermic needles are medical devices. Both are available without a prescription.

The hypodermic needle reduces contamination for two reasons: First, its surface is extremely smooth, which prevents airborne pathogens from becoming trapped between irregularities on the needle's surface, which would subsequently be transferred into the media (e.g. agar) as contaminants; second, the needle's surface is ...