This invention is a needle tip protective device (22). In one embodiment the needle tip protective device (22) includes a needle guard (41) that is slidably mounted on a hypodermic needle (10) having a needle tip (11) located at the distal end of the needle (10). The needle guard (41) contains a movable needle trap (41) that is biased against or toward the hypodermic needle (10). The needle trap (41) advances over the tip (11) of the needle, entrapping the needle tip (11) as the needle guard (41) is urged forward near the sharpened distal end of the hypodermic needle (10). A tether (24), or other limiting means, limits the forward movement of the needle guard (41) along the needle (10). In one embodiment, the needle guard is manually urged forward along the shaft of the needle by the user. In yet another embodiment, a spring, or other biasing means (19), is used to move the needle guard (41) along the shaft of the needle (10).