A 564 mL IV bag is to be infused over 6 hours with a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?

A 564 mL IV bag is to be infused over 6 hours with a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?

• A. 100 gtt/min
• B. 94 gtt/min
• C. 90 gtt/min
• D. 95 gtt/min

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is converting a prescribed infusion into a drip rate using the drop factor to translate milliliters into drops per minute. First, find the infusion rate in milliliters per hour: 564 mL over 6 hours equals 564 ÷ 6 = 94 mL/hour. Next, convert that to drops per hour using the drop factor (60 gtt per mL): 94 mL/hour × 60 gtt/mL = 5,640 gtt/hour. Then convert to drops per minute: 5,640 gtt/hour ÷ 60 min/hour = 94 gtt/min. Alternatively, using minutes directly: 6 hours = 360 minutes, so 564 mL × 60 gtt/mL ÷ 360 min = 94 gtt/min. Therefore, the drip rate is 94 gtt/min.

The concept being tested is converting a prescribed infusion into a drip rate using the drop factor to translate milliliters into drops per minute.

First, find the infusion rate in milliliters per hour: 564 mL over 6 hours equals 564 ÷ 6 = 94 mL/hour.

Next, convert that to drops per hour using the drop factor (60 gtt per mL): 94 mL/hour × 60 gtt/mL = 5,640 gtt/hour.

Then convert to drops per minute: 5,640 gtt/hour ÷ 60 min/hour = 94 gtt/min.

Alternatively, using minutes directly: 6 hours = 360 minutes, so 564 mL × 60 gtt/mL ÷ 360 min = 94 gtt/min.

Therefore, the drip rate is 94 gtt/min.