UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

FACULTY OF PHARMACY
BS PHARMACY

ACTIVITY 7
CALCULATIONS INVOLVED IN PARENTERAL THERAPY

Objectives:
1. to determine flow rate and infusion time of intravenous infusions
2. to apply principles of alligation
3. to apply principles of ratio and proportion in calculations for parenteral therapy

Credit: 30 points

Answer the following questions:

1. Calculate the infusion time in hours if the prescription calls for 0.9 liters to be infused in 60
drops per minute and the drip set is providing 30 drops/mL.
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑚𝐿)
𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝑚𝐿/ℎ𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝐿/𝑚𝑖𝑛)

900 𝑚𝐿
𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 60 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠 1 𝑚𝐿
( 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑥 30 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠
)

𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 450 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑟 7. 5 ℎ𝑟𝑠

2. A medication order calls for 500mL of D5W to be administered over an 8-hour period. Using
an IV administration set that delivers 10 drops/mL, how many drops per minute should be
delivered to the patient?
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑚𝐿) 𝑥 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑒𝑡 (𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠/𝑚𝐿)
𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛)

500 𝑚𝐿 𝑥 10 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠/𝑚𝐿
𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 480 𝑚𝑖𝑛

5000 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠
𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 480 𝑚𝑖𝑛

flow rate = 10.4 drops/min or 10 drops/min

Hospital Pharmacy Laboratory

 3. A prescription calls for Drug A 2mg IV. A pharmacist delivers a vial containing the drug
5mg/mL. How many milliliters should be administered?

5 mg : 1 mL = 2 mg : x mL

x = (2mg)(1mL)/5mg

x = 0.4 mL

4. How many grams each of dextrose and sodium chloride are found on a 500mL bag of
D51⁄2NS for intravenous infusion?

Dextrose 5% water 0.45 sodium chloride

5 g : 100 mL = x g : 500 mL 0.45 g : 100 mL = x g : 500 mL

x = (500 mL)(5 g)/100 mL x = (500 mL)(0.45 g)/100 mL

x = 25 g Dextrose x = 2.25 g NaCl

5. A medication order for a patient weighing 145 lbs calls for 0.25 mg of Drug B per kilogram
body weight to be added to 1000mL of 5% dextrose injection. If Drug B is to be obtained
from a reconstituted injection that contains 50mg/10mL, how many milliliters should be
added to dextrose injection?
1 𝑘𝑔
145 𝑙𝑏𝑠 𝑥 2.2 𝑙𝑏𝑠
= 65. 91 𝑘𝑔

0. 25 𝑚𝑔: 1 𝑘𝑔:: 𝑥 𝑚𝑔: 65. 91 𝑘𝑔

𝑥 = 16. 4775 𝑚𝑔

50 𝑚𝑔: 10 𝑚𝐿:: 16. 4775 𝑚𝑔: 𝑥 𝑚𝐿

x = 3.3 mL

Hospital Pharmacy Laboratory

 6. A prescription is received for 800 mL of 12.5% dextrose injection. Available preparation in
the pharmacy is D50W. How many mL of D50W and normal saline solution is needed?

50% 12.5 parts of 50%

12.5%
0% 37.5 parts of 0%

50 parts = total volume

50 parts : 800 mL = 12.5 parts : x

x = 200 mL of 50% dextrose

50 parts : 800 mL = 37.5 parts : x

x = 600 mL of NSS

Combine 200 mL of 50% dextrose and 600 mL NSS to produce 800 mL of 12.5% dextrose
solution.

Hospital Pharmacy Laboratory