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Drop Factors: Reported by Joan Singh

The document defines drop factors as the number of drops that make up 1 mL of fluid. Common drop factors include 20 drops/mL for clear fluids, 15 drops/mL for thicker substances, and 60 drops/mL for pediatric doses. Formulas are provided to calculate infusion rates in gtts/min given the total volume, drop factor, and number of hours for infusion. Several examples demonstrate using the formulas to determine infusion rates for various orders.

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Joan Singh
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724 views8 pages

Drop Factors: Reported by Joan Singh

The document defines drop factors as the number of drops that make up 1 mL of fluid. Common drop factors include 20 drops/mL for clear fluids, 15 drops/mL for thicker substances, and 60 drops/mL for pediatric doses. Formulas are provided to calculate infusion rates in gtts/min given the total volume, drop factor, and number of hours for infusion. Several examples demonstrate using the formulas to determine infusion rates for various orders.

Uploaded by

Joan Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Drop Factors

Reported by Joan Singh


Drop Factors
 The number of drops it takes to make up one ml of fluid.
 Common sizes are:
 Macro Drop (Adult)
-20 drops per ml (typically for clear fluids)
-15 drops per ml (typically for thicker substances, such as blood)
 Micro Drop (Pedia)
-60 drops per ml (typically for small or very precise amounts of fluids)
Drop Factor Formula
Adult Adult

total # of fluids 15gtts/cc gtts/min total # of fluids 15gtts hrs.


total # of hours 60mins total # of gtts/min 60mins

Pedia Pedia

total # of fluids 60mcgtts/cc total # of fluids 60mcgtts


mcgtts hrs.
total # of hours 60mins /min total # of gtts/min 60mins
Example:
 Doctor’s order says “Infuse 1500ml of Lactated Ringer’s over 12 hrs.”
*Drop factor: 15gtt/ml

total # of fluids X 15gtts/cc


gtts/min
total # of hours X 60mins

1500ml X 15gtts/cc 22,500


12hrs X 60mins 720

31.25

31 gtts/min
Example:
 1000ml of normal saline, hooked at 8am, with drop factor of 30gtts/min, would run for
how many hrs.?

total # of fluids X gtts/cc


hrs
total # of gtts X 60mins

1000ml X 15gtt/cc 15,000


30gtts/min X 60mins 1,800

8.33 hrs.
Example:
Doctor's order says: "300 mL of Ampicillin Sodium 500 mg to infuse over 40 minutes."
Drip factor: 20 gtt/mL*

total # of fluids X gtts/cc gtts/min


total # of hrs X 60mins

300ml X 20gtt/cc 6,000


40mins X 60mins 2,400

2.5

2 gtts/min
Example:
Doctor's order says: "Two 250 mL Packed Red Blood Cells to infuse over 4 hours."
Drip factor: 15 gtt/mL

total # of fluids X gtts/cc gtts/min


total # of hrs X 60mins

250ml X 15gtt/cc 3,750


4hrs X 60mins 240

15.625

16 gtts/min
Example:
Doctor's order says: "500 mL of D5 1/2 Normal Saline with 10 meq of potassium chloride to
infuse over 5 hours " Drip factor: 20 gtt/mL

total # of fluids X gtts/cc gtts/min


total # of hrs X 60mins

500ml X 20gtt/cc 10,000


5hrs X 60mins 300

33.33

33 gtts/min

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