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 for opening the valve positioned proximally of the valve , characterized in that the catheter assembly further comprises a wiper for wiping the needle as the needle is retracted from the catheter tube , wherein the wiper can be attached to the catheter hub or to the valve opener , and a tip protector positioned adjacent the valve opener 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 for opening the valve positioned proximally of the valve , characterized in that the catheter assembly further comprises a wiper for wiping the needle as the needle is retracted from the catheter tube , wherein the wiper can be attached to the catheter hub or to the valve opener , and a tip protector positioned adjacent the valve opener 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. <EOS>