Guys just spoke with DA's next of kin. They said this wasn't true. Derrick may have licked a needle once or twice prior to injecting it into his body, but it was never to sterilize the needle. He did this to make the injection easier, very similar to the way you'd like a needle on an air pump prior to inserting it into a basket or football.
I was told if he did use a potentially contaminated needle he'd clean in 200 proof burbon (this may also explain the licking, but I'm merely guessing with that statement it has not been confirmed nor was it implied that he did this).
Update: Just spoke with the trauma nurse who was Derrick's primary medical care giver. He said he has no reason to believe Palumbo ever sold DA fake growth hormone.