The Betaferon Station
You can also prepare your Betaferon solution with the help of the Betaferon Station.
The Betaferon Station at a glance
Place the vial tightly into the looped end of the vial opener (1). Gently twist the vial towards you to remove the vial cap – use it like a bottle opener. Stabilise the Betaferon station using your other hand to hold it in place.
Tip: There is a vial opener on both sides so you can use your left or right hand.
Insert the vial the right way up into the vial holder (2).
Clean the top of the vial with the alcohol wipe, moving in one direction only and leaving the wipe draped over the top of the vial.
Completely remove the cover from the vial adapter blister pack by holding the loose tag which is at the blue adapter end and peeling it back. Do not remove the vial adapter from the blister pack yet.
Tip: Maintain sterility by not touching the vial adapter or the inside surface of the blister pack.
Remove and discard the alcohol wipe. To attach the adapter, keep it inside the blister pack and hold it from the outside. Turn it over and place the adapter on top of the vial. Snap the adapter into place by pushing down firmly with your thumb and forefinger.
Holding the vial with one hand, remove the blister pack from the adapter and discard it.
Now turn the vial with the adapter attached so that the needle cap rests in the mounted needle cap holder (3) in the centre of the Betaferon Station (as shown).
Holding the syringe vertically with the tip pointing down, place its orange cap in one of the smaller openings (4) on the left or right and twist the syringe anti-clockwise.
Tilt the syringe sideways a little bit while taking it off.
Connect the syringe to the vial adapter by resting the syringe on the syringe shelf (6). Carefully join the syringe to the open end of the adapter and push the syringe in while gently twisting it with a 3/4 turn until you feel some resistance.
You are now ready to dissolve the Betaferon powder.
Slowly push the syringe plunger in to transfer the solution into the vial. After completion, the plunger may return to its original position. This is ok. Take out the syringe-vial assembly, gently swirl it and examine the solution carefully. It should be colourless and clear. If the solution is discoloured or contains visible particles, discard it and start again with a new package.
Tip: If you see foam, let the vial stand until the foam settles down. A little bit of remaining foam is not a problem and is no cause for concern.
Turn the assembly upside down. Slowly pull back the plunger to draw the solution back into the syringe. Keep the syringe in a horizontal position all the time.
Tip: The slower you retract, the fewer bubbles will form.
Turn the syringe assembly so that the needle is pointing upwards. Tap the syringe gently and push the excess air slowly back into the vial, so that you end up with 1.0 ml, or the volume prescribed by your doctor.
Tip: If too much solution is expelled, return to a horizontal position, then pull the plunger back a little to redraw solution from the vial until the correct dosage is reached.
To remove the blue adapter, place the vial back into the vial holder (2). Grasp the blue cap and gently twist it clockwise with a quarter turn.
If you are using an autoinjector, leave the needle cap on.
If you are injecting manually, remove the needle cap using the cap remover (5). Place the syringe in the needle cap remover and gently push down. The cap has been specially designed to slip off easily at this point.
