Abstract: A device for preventing exposure of a contaminated hypodermic needle to health care personnel is provided. A syringe barrel having a flange at one end and a hypodermic needle at the other end is adapted to receive a plunger. A protective guard fits around the syringe barrel and moves relative thereto. The protective guard can assume different positions in which the hypodermic needle is either exposed or retracted in the protective guard. The protective guard is spring biased to a guarded position which covers the hypodermic needle. A ratcheting mechanism provided on the protective guard and the syringe barrel restricts that movement of the protective guard which exposes the hypodermic needle. When the needle has been used and is being removed from the patient's body, the syringe barrel and hypodermic needle retract inside the protective guard and the ratcheting mechanism may be disabled to permanently secure the needle in the guarded position.