# BD Needles: Ultra-Fine, Micro-Fine, Pentapoint differences?

**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/bd-needles-ultra-fine-micro-fine-pentapoint-differences/1141
**Category:** Gear
**Created:** [June 3, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/bd-needles-ultra-fine-micro-fine-pentapoint-differences/1141 "2017-06-03T22:47:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![MaryPat](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/marypat/32/985_2.png) [@MaryPat](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MaryPat)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/bd-needles-ultra-fine-micro-fine-pentapoint-differences/1141/1 "2017-06-03T22:47:27Z")

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I was going to order some 8mm needles to test [@Eric’s assertion about faster action](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/shorter-needles/1121), which was contradicting [the research that @Michel had posted](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/are-longer-insulin-needles-faster-to-act/993).

But I find that there are many different needle options, really. I want BD needles because that’s what we use, and everyone seems to believe they are better. The ones we use are Ultra-Fine with Pentapoint. I also see, on Amazon, regular Ultra-Fine, and also Micro-Fine, all in 8mm length 31G gauge.

What are the differences? I don’t seem to find an explanation when searching for it. BD does not show the difference on the product pages (that I can find)

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### Author: ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/bd-needles-ultra-fine-micro-fine-pentapoint-differences/1141/2 "2017-06-04T00:40:24Z")

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I can’t answer about the differences, but I can tell you that I use the Ultra-Fine 8mm 31G, and I think these are really good.

 ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/1X/9960ba1cdccdccd0f3698415d0d85743aa2304b8.png)

When you do your comparison with the 8mm needles, I encourage you to use BG tests for validation. Dexcom is never the way to go for tests like that. I particularly noticed a difference with bigger boluses.

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### Author: ![MaryPat](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/marypat/32/985_2.png) [@MaryPat](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MaryPat)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/bd-needles-ultra-fine-micro-fine-pentapoint-differences/1141/3 "2017-06-04T01:05:50Z")

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Thank you. I took your data and just bought a box! I will report on results.