Examples · IV drip rate (gtt/min)
Worked example
IV drip rate (gtt/min) — practice problem 2
An order reads: infuse 500 mL of D5 1/2 NS over 1 hour by gravity. The tubing drop factor is 20 gtt/mL.
Volume500 mL
Time1 hr (60 min)
Drop factor20 gtt/mL
What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
Answer: 167 gtt/min
Step-by-step solution
1. Start from the flow rate and multiply by the drop factor
( 500 mL ÷ 60 min ) × ( 20 gtt ÷ 1 mL )
2. Cancel mL and solve
= ( 500 × 20 ) ÷ 60 gtt/min
= 166.67 gtt/min
3. Round to whole drops (you cannot count part of a drop)
166.67 gtt/min ≈ 167 gtt/min
= 167 gtt/min
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