If a drip rate is 60 mL/hour for 2.5 hours, what is the total volume?

If a drip rate is 60 mL/hour for 2.5 hours, what is the total volume?

• A. 100 mL
• B. 150 mL
• C. 180 mL
• D. 200 mL

Answer: (B)

Infusion volume comes from multiplying the drip rate by the time the infusion runs. With a rate of 60 mL per hour for 2.5 hours, multiply 60 by 2.5. That gives 150 mL. You can see it by breaking down the time: 2 hours at 60 mL/hour yields 120 mL, and half an hour at 60 mL/hour yields 30 mL. Add them together and you get 150 mL. The other totals would require different times (for example, 180 mL would occur with 3 hours, and 200 mL with about 3.33 hours), so 150 mL fits the given rate and duration.

Infusion volume comes from multiplying the drip rate by the time the infusion runs. With a rate of 60 mL per hour for 2.5 hours, multiply 60 by 2.5. That gives 150 mL.

You can see it by breaking down the time: 2 hours at 60 mL/hour yields 120 mL, and half an hour at 60 mL/hour yields 30 mL. Add them together and you get 150 mL.

The other totals would require different times (for example, 180 mL would occur with 3 hours, and 200 mL with about 3.33 hours), so 150 mL fits the given rate and duration.