tip 48 and a ridge 46 the needle mounting base 30 comprises a mount 32 whereby a needle 31 can be attached to the needle mounting base 30 a ridge 34 formed on the needle mounting base 30 to mate with a matching groove 241 in the needle retaining base 20 a bump 33 provides a snapping lock for holding the needle mounting base 30 onto the needle retaining base 20 note the ridge 34 and groove 24 may be inverted to provide a groove in the needle mounting base 30 and a ridge in the needle retaining base 20 a flow tube 38 extends through the needle mounting base 30 with one end exposed in an opening 321 of the mount 32 in a top side of the needle mounting base 30 and another end 381 exposed in the bottom of the needle mounting base 30 the end 381 of the flow tube 38 has a sharp tip for puncturing the seal of the vacuum vial not shown the flow tube 38 allows for blood to flow from the needle 31 into the vacuum vial the end of the flow tube 38 may or may not extend to be exposed through the top of the opening 321 and is positioned to allow mating with the needle 31 a top tab 39 protrudes from the top end of the needle mounting base 30 a bottom tab 36 protrudes from the bottom end of the needle mounting 5 base 30 the top tab 39 and bottom.