IV COMPUTATION QUESTIONS

1. Calculate the IV flow rate for 250 mL of 0.5% dextrose to be administered over 180 minutes. The
infusion set has drop factor of 30 gtts/mL.

Solution:
Given
Volume - 250 mL
Time – 180 min
Drop factor – 30 gtts/mL

volume( mL)
Formula
¿ ( )
time ( min ❑) x Drop factor gtts =Y (gtts /min)¿
mL

250 mL

¿ ( )
180 min x 30 gtts =41.66 gtts/min ¿
mL

2. The infusion set is adjusted for a drop factor of 15 gtts/mL. Calculate the IV flow rate if 1500mL
IV saline is ordered to be infused over 12 hours.

Solution:
Volume – 1500mL
Time – 12 hours
Drop factor – 15 gtts/mL

(convert 8 hours into minutes: 12 h x 60min/h = 720 min)

Formula
volume( mL)
time(min❑)
x Drop factor
gtts
mL ( )
=Y (gtts /min)

1500 mL
720 min
x 15
mL( )
gtts
=31.25 gtts/min

3. 1200 mL D5W IV is ordered to infuse in 10 hours by infusion pump. Calculate the flow rate in
milliliters per hour.

Solution:
Volume 1200 ml
Time 10 h
 volume (mL)
Formula time ( h )
=Y ( Flow Rate∈mL /h)¿
¿
1200 mL
10 h=120 mL /h ¿
¿
4. 600 mL of 5% Dextrose water is to be infused over the 180 minutes by an infusion pump.
Calculate the flow rate (mL per hour).

Solution:
Volume – 600 mL
Time – 180 min

(convert 180 min into hours since the flow rate must be stated in mL/h:
180 min ÷ 60 min/h = 3 hours)

volume ( mL )
Formula time ( h )
=Y ( Flow Rate ∈mL /h ) ¿
¿
600 mL
3 h=200 mL /h ¿
¿

5. An IV of 1000 Ml of D5W is infusing at 90 mL/h. How long will it take to complete?

Solution:
Volume – 1000 mL
Flow rate – 90 mL/h

volume (mL)
Rate = time or flowrate
=time ¿
¿

1000 mL
infuse
( )
1 x 1 hour =11.11 hours ¿
¿ 90 mL
0.11 h
x
¿ ( 1 hr )
Remember the fractional hour 1 60 min
=6.6 min so 11 hours∧7 minutes isthe infusion time ¿

6. A rate of 75 mL/h is ordered for a total volume of 500mL D5W. Calculate the infusion time.
 volume (mL)
Rate = time or flowrate
=time ¿
¿
500 mL
infuse
( )
1 x 1 hour =6.67 hours ¿
¿ 75 mL

Remember the fractional hour

0.67 h

( )
1 x 60 min =40.2 min ¿ 40 min so 6 hours∧40 minutes isthe infusiontime .¿
¿ 1 hr
7. A patient is ordered to receive 1000 mL of intravenous fluids to run over 8 hours. Calculate the
drip rate.

volume (mL)
=Drip rate
time
1000(mL)
=125 mL /h
8h

8. A patient is to receive 1L of Hartmann’s solution over the next 12 hours. What is the rate of
infusion in drops per minute (dpm), if the drop factor is 60 drops per mL.

volume ( mL ) dropfactor drops/mL

run ( h ) ¿ x = drip rate (dpm)
time ¿ 60 min /h

Volume – 1000 mL, since 1L= 1000 mL

Time – 12 hours
Drop factor – 60 drops per mL

1000 ( mL ) 60 drops /mL

x = 83.833 or 84 drops/min
12 ( h ) 60 min / h

9. Infuse 250 ml over the next 120 minutes by infusion pump.

volume ( mL )
= Flow rate in mL/h
time ( h )
(convert 120 minutes to hours: 120 min ÷ 60 = 2h)

250 ( mL )
= 125 mL/h
2 (h)
10. Calculate the IV flow arte for 1200 ml of NS to be infused in 6 hours. The infusion set is
calibrated for a drop factor of 15 gtts/mL.

volume ( mL ) gtts
x drop factor ( ) = Y (flow rate in gtts/mL)
time(min❑) mL

(convert 6 hours to minutes: 6h x 60 = 360 min)

1200 ( mL )
x 15 gtts/mL= 50 gtts/min
360 min