Examples · IV drip rate (gtt/min)
Worked example
IV drip rate (gtt/min) - practice problem 9
An order reads: infuse 500 mL of D5 1/2 NS over 3 hours by gravity. The tubing drop factor is 10 gtt/mL.
Volume500 mL
Time3 hr
Drop factor10 gtt/mL
What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
Answer: 28 gtt/min
Step-by-step solution
1. Start from the flow rate and multiply by the drop factor
( 500 mL ÷ 180 min ) × ( 10 gtt ÷ 1 mL )
2. Cancel mL and solve
= ( 500 × 10 ) ÷ 180 gtt/min
= 27.78 gtt/min
3. Round to whole drops (you cannot count part of a drop)
27.78 gtt/min ≈ 28 gtt/min
= 28 gtt/min
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