Sizes of the I.V.

Cannula
Size Color Length Flow Uses Nursing
Rate(ml/min) Consideration
 Used for adolescent and  Painful
adult major surgery and insertion
ORANGE 45 250-300 trauma Required
14G
 infusion of large amount of large
fluids or colloids insertion
 adolescent and adult Painful insertion
major surgery and trauma Required large
16G GREY 45 150-240
 infusion of large amount of insertion
fluids or colloids
 adolescent and adult Commonly used
major surgery and trauma
18G GREEN 45 100-120
 infusion of large amount of
fluids or colloids
 Older children, adolescent  Easy to insert
and adult into small,
 Ideal for I.V. infusion and thin, fragile
20G PINK 32 55-80 blood infusion veins
 Medication administration  Difficult to
 Emergency management insert into
though skin
 Older children, adolescent  Insertion to
and elderly adult though skin is
22G BLUE 25 22-50  I.V. infusion with moderate difficult
flow rates
 Medication administration
 Infant toddler, older Less painful
children Insertion to
 Major surgery and trauma though skin is
24G YELLOW 19 23
among children difficult
 Can administer fluids and
medication
 Neonate, infant and elderly Insertion to
adults though skin is
26G VIOLET 19 10-15
 Suitable for infusion but difficult and less
infusion rate is low painful
Flow rate calculation:

When calculating the flow rate of IV solutions, remember that the number of drops required to
deliver 1 ml varies with the type of administration set.
Administration sets are of two types:
 Macro drip set (delivers 10-20 drops/ml )
 Micro drip set (60 drops/ml).

Flow rate = Volume of infusion in ml x Drip factor (in drops/ml)

Time of infusion in minutes