A 500 mL bag with drop factor 20 gtt/mL is to be infused over 5 hours. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?

A 500 mL bag with drop factor 20 gtt/mL is to be infused over 5 hours. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?

• A. 33 gtt/min
• B. 30 gtt/min
• C. 36 gtt/min
• D. 39 gtt/min

Answer: (A)

The drip rate in drops per minute is found by turning the total volume into drops and dividing by the infusion time in minutes. Multiply the volume by the drop factor to get the total number of drops, then divide by how many minutes the infusion lasts. Total drops = 500 mL × 20 gtt/mL = 10,000 drops. Infusion time = 5 hours = 300 minutes. Drips per minute = 10,000 drops ÷ 300 minutes ≈ 33.3 gtt/min, which rounds to 33 gtt/min. So the rate is about 33 gtt/min.

The drip rate in drops per minute is found by turning the total volume into drops and dividing by the infusion time in minutes. Multiply the volume by the drop factor to get the total number of drops, then divide by how many minutes the infusion lasts.

Total drops = 500 mL × 20 gtt/mL = 10,000 drops.

Infusion time = 5 hours = 300 minutes.

Drips per minute = 10,000 drops ÷ 300 minutes ≈ 33.3 gtt/min, which rounds to 33 gtt/min.

So the rate is about 33 gtt/min.