An arterial syringe assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a housing with a proximal end that may couple with a syringe barrel and a distal end that may couple with a needle. A needle cover is coupled with the housing at a hinge that may rotate to position the needle cover relative to the needle and may rotate to an orientation aligned with the needle such that the needle is within the needle cover. A needle plug is coupled to the needle cover at a distal end of the needle cover and may include plug material. The needle plug may slide axially relative to the needle to advance the needle plug at a distal end of the needle. A hydrophobic filter is positioned within the syringe barrel to evacuate air through a proximal end of the syringe barrel after the needle tip extends within the plug material.
