A syringe assembly including a plunger rod (14) separate and detached from a syringe barrel (12) and a packaging member the plunger rod having a sealing member and the packaging member having a first compartment (96) and a second compartment (98) is disclosed. With the syringe barrel (12) received within the first compartment (96) and the plunger rod (14) received within the second compartment (98) the sealing member (66) of the plunger rod seals the syringe barrel and the plunger rod (14) within the packaging member. In this manner the syringe assembly is placed in the packaging member in a manner that allows for reduced storage space of the syringe assembly. In one embodiment the syringe assembly includes an engagement portion connected to the plunger rod and a stopper slidably disposed within the interior of the syringe barrel the engagement portion operable to secure the plunger rod to the stopper. In this manner upon removal of the plunger rod and the syringe barrel from the packaging member the plunger rod can quickly and easily be secured to the syringe barrel via the stopper for collecting a fluid and/or delivering a fluid.
