A shielding needle assembly comprising a needle cannula (25a) having a puncture tip (35a) at a distal end thereof a needle hub (27a) supporting the needle cannula a barrel (11a, 13a) having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage extending between the ends, the needle hub being disposed in the passage of the barrel a drive member (9a) disposed between the barrel and the needle hub for driving the needle hub from a first position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed from the distal end of the barrel to a second position where the puncture tip of the needle cannula is disposed entirely within the barrel and a lever (16a) pivotally connected to the barrel and including a forward portion (49a) adjacent the needle cannula when the needle hub is in the first position and adapted to contact a surface and a rearward portion (51a) including a releasable engagement (314) with the needle hub for maintaining the needle hub in the first position, wherein contact of the forward portion of the lever with a surface pivots the lever and releases an initial engagement with the needle hub at the rearward portion of the lever.
