Manual IV drip rate in drops per minute is the fluid volume times the tubing's drop factor, divided by the infusion time in minutes. It's a core nursing-school calculation for gravity infusions.
For nursing school
Study essentials.
Dosage calculation workbook
Practise the maths.
Nursing clipboard
Reference on the go.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the IV drip rate formula?
gtt/min = (volume in mL × drop factor in gtt/mL) ÷ time in minutes.
What is a common drop factor?
Macro-drip sets are usually 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL; micro-drip sets are 60 gtt/mL.