Abstract: A safety needle system for use with a hollow syringe-like body which uses a needle for aspirating, injecting or collecting having a reciprocal guide for linearly guiding the needle into and out of operable engagement with the syringe-like body. The needle safety system permits the controlled release of a used needle so that it can be placed safely in a receptacle without danger of it going elsewhere. The structure also permits the reuse of the hollow syringe-like body. The needle safety system can be retrofitted onto existing syringe-like bodies or incorporated into syringe-like bodies during manufacture.