Pilot Safety Study to Determine the Ability of the Protector Cap Jet Injector to Prevent Cross-Contamination

The jet injector is a needle-free injection device that uses a high-pressure stream to penetrate the skin and deliver medication into intradermal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular tissues. Multi-dose jet injectors are a type of jet injector with a reusable fluid path that consists of the vial adapter, dose chamber, fluid pathway, and nozzle. Although credited with decades of use and the delivery of millions of doses of vaccine in the field, multi-dose jet injectors are no longer used due to evidence of cross-contamination between injections. The HSI-500 Jet Injector with Protector Cap has been designed with a disposable plastic cap that acts as a shield between the nozzle and the skin to eliminate cross-contamination between injections while maintaining a high rate of vaccine delivery to multiple patients.

The objective of this pilot safety study is to provide a preliminary indication of the ability of the jet injector to prevent cross-contamination from hepatitis B virus between volunteer injections. A secondary objective of the study is to test study procedures prior to a larger-scale safety study.

Inclusion criteria

• Between the age of 18 and 60 years.
• Either male or female.
• In good health, by self-report and confirmed by physical exam.
• Willing and able to follow procedural requirements of the study.
• Willing and able to provide informed consent for study participation.
• Ability to read and understand informed consent information sheet in English.

For Hepatitis B Positive Volunteers

• Actively infected with blood levels of greater than or equal to 10*6 hepatits B virus (HBV) copies/mL, confirmed by HBV DNA blood test conducted up to 21 days prior to the day of study enrollment (existing patient record)
• Not presently taking any heparin-based drugs that could potentially interfere with HBV assays.

For Hepatitis B Negative Volunteers

• Not actively infected with HBV as confirmed by HBV tests.
• Not presently taking any drugs that could potentially interfere with HBV assays.
• No prior history of HBV infection.

Exclusion criteria

• Requires anti-viral HBV therapy.
• History of allergic reactions or anaphylaxis to immunizations.
• Dermatological conditions affecting the injection site (such as eczema).
• Blood coagulation disorders or history of taking drugs that affect blood coagulation.
• Presently taking any heparin-based medication (Calciparine, Liquaemin Sodium, Hep-Lock, or Hep-Lock U/P) that could potentially interfere with HBV assays.
• History of severe psychiatric disease.
• Previous suicidal attempt or hospitalization for psychiatric episode within the last 24 weeks.
• Any other conditions or circumstances that, in the opinion of the investigator, may be a threat to the safety and welfare of the volunteer.