Examples · IV drip rate (gtt/min)
Worked example
IV drip rate (gtt/min) - practice problem 7
An order reads: infuse 100 mL of D5W over 30 minutes by gravity. The tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/mL.
Volume100 mL
Time30 min
Drop factor15 gtt/mL
What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
Answer: 50 gtt/min
Step-by-step solution
1. Start from the flow rate and multiply by the drop factor
( 100 mL ÷ 30 min ) × ( 15 gtt ÷ 1 mL )
2. Cancel mL and solve
= ( 100 × 15 ) ÷ 30 gtt/min
= 50 gtt/min
3. Round to whole drops (you cannot count part of a drop)
50 gtt/min ≈ 50 gtt/min
= 50 gtt/min
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