How many drops per minute is equivalent to a flow rate of 5ml/min using 20 gtts/ml tubing?

To determine the number of drops per minute equivalent to a flow rate of 5 mL/min using 20 gtts/mL tubing, you can use the following formula:

Drops per minute = Flow rate (mL/min) × Drop factor (gtts/mL)

Where:

• Flow rate is given as 5 mL/min.

• The drop factor of the tubing is 20 gtts/mL.

Now, plug in the values:

Drops per minute = 5 mL/min × 20 gtts/mL = 100 drops/min.

This calculation shows that at 5 mL/min with 20 gtts/mL tubing, the infusion rate translates to 100 drops per minute. Therefore, the correct answer is 100 drops per minute.

Understanding the formula and the concept of drop factors is crucial in pharmacy settings, especially for calculations related to IV therapy and fluid administration.