The doctor orders an IV infusion of D5W 1000 mL to infuse over the next 4 hours. The IV tubing delivers 20 gtt/mL. What is the correct rate of flow? (Answer in gtt/min rounded to the nearest whole number)

The doctor orders an IV infusion of D5W 1000 mL to infuse over the next 4 hours. The IV tubing delivers 20 gtt/mL. What is the correct rate of flow? (Answer in gtt/min rounded to the nearest whole number)

• A. 60 gtt/min
• B. 83 gtt/min
• C. 100 gtt/min
• D. 45 gtt/min

Answer: (C)

Calculating IV flow rate uses volume to be infused, the time over which it’s infused, and the tubing’s drop factor. Convert the infusion time to minutes: 4 hours is 240 minutes. Then find the rate in milliliters per minute: 1000 mL ÷ 240 min ≈ 4.17 mL/min. The tubing delivers 20 drops per milliliter, so multiply by the drop factor to get drops per minute: 4.17 mL/min × 20 drops/mL ≈ 83.3 drops/min. Rounding to the nearest whole number gives 83 gtt/min.

Calculating IV flow rate uses volume to be infused, the time over which it’s infused, and the tubing’s drop factor. Convert the infusion time to minutes: 4 hours is 240 minutes. Then find the rate in milliliters per minute: 1000 mL ÷ 240 min ≈ 4.17 mL/min. The tubing delivers 20 drops per milliliter, so multiply by the drop factor to get drops per minute: 4.17 mL/min × 20 drops/mL ≈ 83.3 drops/min. Rounding to the nearest whole number gives 83 gtt/min.