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