A catheter assembly comprising: a catheter hub comprising a housing comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior cavity; a catheter tube attached to the catheter hub and extending distally of the catheter hub; a needle hub comprising a housing comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior cavity; a needle having a needle tip attached to the needle hub and projecting distally of the needle hub and into the catheter tube; a valve for limiting blood backflow positioned in the interior cavity of the catheter hub; a valve opener (48, 132, 180, 193) for opening the valve positioned proximally of the valve, characterized in that the catheter assembly further comprises a wiper (116, 118, 120, 134, 150, 170, 176, 190, 197) for wiping the needle as the needle is retracted from the catheter tube, wherein the wiper (116, 118, 120, 134, 150, 170, 176, 190, 197) can be attached to the catheter hub or to the valve opener (48, 132), and a tip protector positioned adjacent the valve opener (48, 132) for blocking the needle tip, wherein the tip protector comprises: a tip protector housing having an interior surface; a first arm extending from a distal wall of the tip protector housing biased towards the interior surface of the catheter hub; a second arm extending from a proximal wall of the tip protector housing biased towards the interior surface of the catheter hub; and a third arm extending from the proximal wall of the tip protector housing biased against a side of the needle. a catheter hub comprising a housing comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior cavity; a catheter tube attached to the catheter hub and extending distally of the catheter hub; a needle hub comprising a housing comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior cavity; a needle having a needle tip attached to the needle hub and projecting distally of the needle hub and into the catheter tube; a valve for limiting blood backflow positioned in the interior cavity of the catheter hub; a valve opener (48, 132, 180, 193) for opening the valve positioned proximally of the valve, characterized in that the catheter assembly further comprises a wiper (116, 118, 120, 134, 150, 170, 176, 190, 197) for wiping the needle as the needle is retracted from the catheter tube, wherein the wiper (116, 118, 120, 134, 150, 170, 176, 190, 197) can be attached to the catheter hub or to the valve opener (48, 132), and a tip protector positioned adjacent the valve opener (48, 132) for blocking the needle tip, wherein the tip protector comprises: a tip protector housing having an interior surface; a first arm extending from a distal wall of the tip protector housing biased towards the interior surface of the catheter hub; a second arm extending from a proximal wall of the tip protector housing biased towards the interior surface of the catheter hub; and a third arm extending from the proximal wall of the tip protector housing biased against a side of the needle. a tip protector housing having an interior surface; a first arm extending from a distal wall of the tip protector housing biased towards the interior surface of the catheter hub; a second arm extending from a proximal wall of the tip protector housing biased towards the interior surface of the catheter hub; and a third arm extending from the proximal wall of the tip protector housing biased against a side of the needle.