Formula:
The standard formula for calculating the IV drip rate (drops/minute) is:
Drip Rate (gtts/min) = (Total Volume (mL) × Drop Factor (gtts/mL)) ÷ Time (min)
For micro drip tubing, the Drop Factor is a constant 60 gtts/mL. When the total infusion time is entered in hours, this formula simplifies significantly to:
Drip Rate (gtts/min) = Total Volume (mL) ÷ Total Infusion Time (hours)
Where:
- Total Volume (mL): The total amount of fluid (in milliliters) to be infused.
- Total Infusion Time (hours): The total duration (in hours) over which the fluid is to be infused.
- Drip Rate (gtts/min): The calculated number of drops per minute, rounded to the nearest whole drop.