INTRAVENOUS

COMPUTATION

Calculation of Flow Rates

Intravenous fluid must be given at a
specific rate, neither too fast nor too
slow. The specific rate may be
measured as ml/hr, or drops per
minute.
To control or adjust the flow rate only
drops per minute are used.

What to Know?
What is DROP FACTOR?
Thedrop factor, also called thedrip
factor, is the calibration or number of
drops per one mL of solution used in IV
Fluid administration.
Always check the tubing package to be
sure. Microdrip tubing universally
delivers 60 gtt/mL. It is used for infusing
small or very precise amounts of fluids.

A number of different drop factors

are available but the common are:
1. 10 drops/ml
2. 15 drops/ml
3. 20 drops/ml ( macrodrop used in
OHUD HOSPITAL)
4. 60 drops/ml ( microdrop; chamber,
burette)
Drop factor can be seen in the
packaging of the IV Set.

DROPS/MINUTE (gtts/min)
FORMULA:

Total IV
Drops/min=
fluid
No. of
Hours

Drop Factor

60

Example: How many drops per minute?

Normal saline 500 ml to run for 8 hours,
using MACROSET.(* DF of macroset used in
OHUD HOSPITAL is 20)

Total IV
Drops/min=
fluid
No. of
Hours
500ml

8X
10000

Drop Factor

60
20
60

480

= 20.83 or 20-21 drops/min

Example: How many drops per minute?

Normal saline 500 ml to run for 8
hours, using MICROSET.
Total IV
Drops/min=
fluid
No. of
Hours
500ml

Drop Factor

60
60

8 Hr
30000
480

= 62.5 drops/min

60

mL/Hr
FORMULA:

Total
IV
fluid
mL/Hr=
No. of
Hours

Example: How many mL/Hr?

Normal saline 500 ml to run for 8 hours.
Total IV
Drops/min=
fluid
No. of
Hours
500ml

8 Hr

=62.5 mL/Hr

Number of Hours
FORMULA:

Total
IV
fluid
Number of Hr=
mL/Hr

Example: How many hours the fluid will be

infused?
Normal saline 500 ml to run for 100mL/Hr. hooked
at 0700H.

Number of

Total IV
hours=
fluid
mL/Hr
500ml

100mL/Hr

= 5 HOURS
*500 ml of Normal saline will finished at
1200H

Thank you