What is the primary function of a syringe?

The primary function of a syringe is to withdraw or inject solutions. Syringes are designed with a plunger that creates a vacuum, allowing them to draw fluids into the barrel, or to expel fluids out of the barrel with precision. This capability makes syringes essential tools in various medical and pharmaceutical applications, including administering medications or vaccines, drawing blood samples, and delivering precise doses of liquid medications directly into the body or into other containers.

In contrast, while preparing hazardous compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) is an important role in pharmacy, it is more focused on the preparation process rather than the action of the syringe itself. The disposal of sharp objects typically involves different protocols and containers specifically designed for safety, rather than the use of a syringe directly. Lastly, while syringes can be used to mix medications to an extent when delivering them, their primary and most defining function does not involve the mixing process as much as the actual withdrawal or injection of solutions.