Gravity-drop safety holder

A safety blood collection device comprising:

• a holder housing comprising a generally tubular wall extending between a forward end and an open rearward end to define an interior chamber therein, the rearward end of the holder housing adapted to receive a sample collection tube therethrough;
• a needle including a first end having a patient puncture tip and a second end having a non-patient puncture tip;
• and a retainer or a needle carrier co-acting with the holder housing and adapted to maintain the needle in a first position with the first end extending from the forward end of the holder housing, the retainer or the needle carrier adapted for activation so as to release the needle, such that when the device is in an upright position, the force of gravity is the sole force which acts based on the weight of the needle to move the needle from the first position extending from the forward end of the holder housing to a second position in which the first end is contained within the interior chamber of the holder housing,
• wherein the retainer or the needle carrier is configured to have a length which is at least equal to or greater than a length of the second end of the needle and wherein movement of the retainer or the needle carrier from the first position toward the second position causes the first end and the second end of the needle to be automatically contained within the interior chamber of the holder housing without further action by an operator.