Clinical performance and safety of the ID adapter, a prototype intradermal delivery technology for vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tests

Several vaccines, diagnostic tests, and medications are currently delivered intradermally, and it is likely that this route of administration will grow in importance. A phase I clinical study was conducted to evaluate the intradermal (ID) adapter, a prototype intradermal delivery aid, for safety and precision of injection. Healthy adult volunteers received two injections each of 0.1 mL of sterile saline solution in the upper deltoid region of the arm using the ID adapter. Injection performance was determined by the proportion of injections delivered to the dermal layer by measuring wheals and fluid leakage, and through ultrasound imaging. Of the 40 study injections, 100% were determined to be successful intradermal injections. Leakage of liquid at the injection site was negligible. Performance was similar with the bevel orientation both upward and downward. Minor bleeding and skin abrasions were the only reported adverse events. Injections were well tolerated based on self-reporting of pain of injection. Based on these results, the ID adapter appears to be safe and effective as an alternative to the Mantoux method of ID delivery for future use in clinical evaluations of ID delivery of vaccines, skin tests, and other drugs.