Paul Nitesh

When calculating the drip rate, first identify which IV tubing you will be using, microdrip or macrodrip, so you can use the proper drop factor in your calculations. The drop factor is the number of drops in one mL of solution and is printed on the IV tubing package. Macrodrip and microdrip refers to the diameter of the needle where the drop enters the drip chamber. Macrodrip tubing generally delivers 10 to 20 gtt/mL and is used to infuse large volumes or to infuse fluids quickly. Microdrip tubing delivers 60 gtt/mL and is used for small or very precise amounts of fluid, as with neonates or pediatric patients.

If you simply need to figure out the infusion rate, or the mL per hour to infuse, take the total volume in mL, divided by the total time in hours that the medication is ordered to be infused over, to equal the rate in mL per hour. For example, if you have 1,000 mL Normal Saline to infuse over 8 hours, take 1,000 mL divided by 8 hours, to equal 125 mL/hr.

To calculate the drip rate, however, the drop factor is needed. The formula for calculating the IV drip rate is… total volume (in mL) divided by time (in minutes), multiplied by the drop factor (in gtt/mL), which equals the IV drip rate in gtt/min.

Let’s try an example.

The provider has ordered 1,000 mL Lactated Ringers to infuse over 8 hours. You have a macrodrip tubing with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. Calculate how many gtt/min to set as the IV flow rate. Using the formula, 1,000 mL divided by \(8\times 60\) (since we have 8 hours times 60min/hr), then multiply by 15 gtt/min to equal 31.2, rounded to 31 gtt/min.

Here’s a tip… When the IV tubing is microdrip, 60 gtt/mL, the drops per minute will be the same as the mL per hour. For example, you have 500 mL to infuse over 12 hours with a microdrip set. The total volume (500 mL), divided by the total time in hours (12), equals 41.6, rounded to 42 mL per hour.

The drops per minute would be calculated as total volume, divided by time (in minutes), multiplied by the drop factor of 60 gtts/min, which also equals 41.6, rounded to 42 drops per minute.

Let’s look at an example of an IV piggyback medication… 1 gram of Ancef in 100 mL of normal saline is to be infused over 30 minutes. You have macrodrip tubing with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL. Calculate how many gtt/min to set as the IV drip rate. Use the formula, with 100 mL divided by 30 min, multiplied by 10 gtt/min, which equals 33.3, rounded to 33 gtt/min.

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