Low dead space injecting equipment has less space between the needle and the plunger after injecting. Blood and drug remain in this space, so if equipment is shared the risk of spreading blood-borne viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis C, is higher when there’s more blood left in the equipment.
This animation explains low dead space equipment and the benefits of using it for people who inject drugs, to reduce the risk of spreading blood borne viruses.
The project to develop this animation included Bristol Drugs Project service users as co-designers. The project was overseen by a steering group that included Bristol Drugs Project, Exchange Supplies, Public Health England, NIHR CLAHRC West and NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Evaluation of Interventions.