The disclosure pertains to a safety syringe having a retractable needle shield which is capable of being retracted to expose the needle for use; being advanced to a needle shielding position; and, if desired, of being removed from the syringe with the shielded needle safely contained within the retractable needle shield via a frangible segment between the syringe barrel and the needle/needle shield components. The disclosure further pertains to a method of using the safety syringe having a retractable needle shield.