Examples · IV drip rate (gtt/min)
Worked example
IV drip rate (gtt/min) — practice problem 14
An order reads: infuse 100 mL of lactated Ringer's over 12 hours by gravity. The tubing drop factor is 20 gtt/mL.
Volume100 mL
Time12 hr (720 min)
Drop factor20 gtt/mL
What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
Answer: 3 gtt/min
Step-by-step solution
1. Start from the flow rate and multiply by the drop factor
( 100 mL ÷ 720 min ) × ( 20 gtt ÷ 1 mL )
2. Cancel mL and solve
= ( 100 × 20 ) ÷ 720 gtt/min
= 2.78 gtt/min
3. Round to whole drops (you cannot count part of a drop)
2.78 gtt/min ≈ 3 gtt/min
= 3 gtt/min
More iv drip rate (gtt/min) examples