Calculate the drops per minute for 1000 mL of saline to be infused over 24 hours with tubing of 10 gtt/mL.

Calculate the drops per minute for 1000 mL of saline to be infused over 24 hours with tubing of 10 gtt/mL.

• A. 6 gtt/min
• B. 7 gtt/min
• C. 8 gtt/min
• D. 9 gtt/min

Answer: (B)

Calculating IV flow rate in drops per minute uses the volume to be infused, the infusion time, and the tubing’s drop factor. The formula is drops per minute = (volume in mL × drop factor) / time in minutes. Here, volume is 1000 mL, drop factor is 10 gtt/mL, and time is 24 hours (1440 minutes). So: Drops per minute = (1000 × 10) / 1440 = 10000 / 1440 ≈ 6.94, which rounds to 7 gtt/min. Alternative view: 1000 mL over 24 hours equals about 41.67 mL/hour; with 10 gtt/mL, that’s 41.67 × 10 / 60 ≈ 6.94 gtt/min, again about 7. This rate provides the intended infusion; 6 would be a slower rate, 8 would be faster.

Calculating IV flow rate in drops per minute uses the volume to be infused, the infusion time, and the tubing’s drop factor. The formula is drops per minute = (volume in mL × drop factor) / time in minutes.

Here, volume is 1000 mL, drop factor is 10 gtt/mL, and time is 24 hours (1440 minutes). So:

Drops per minute = (1000 × 10) / 1440 = 10000 / 1440 ≈ 6.94, which rounds to 7 gtt/min.

Alternative view: 1000 mL over 24 hours equals about 41.67 mL/hour; with 10 gtt/mL, that’s 41.67 × 10 / 60 ≈ 6.94 gtt/min, again about 7. This rate provides the intended infusion; 6 would be a slower rate, 8 would be faster.