20 drops
Drop factor = the number of drops it takes to make up one ml of fluid. Two common sizes are: 20 drops per ml (typically for clear fluids)

The drops per minute would be calculated as total volume, divided by time (in minutes), multiplied by the drop factor of 60 gtts/min, which also equals 41.6, rounded to 42 drops per minute.

An IV infusion set is used to administer fluids and medications directly into the blood stream. Infusion or flow rates are adjusted to the desired drops per minute by a clamp on the tubing. The flow rate is calculated by the nurse in drops per minute (gtts/min).

Conversion chart – drops per minute to drops per second

1. drop per minute to drops per second = 0.017 gtt/sec.
2. drops per minute to drops per second = 0.033 gtt/sec.
3. drops per minute to drops per second = 0.050 gtt/sec.
4. drops per minute to drops per second = 0.067 gtt/sec.

To calculate the drops per minute, the drop factor is needed. The formula for calculating the IV flow rate (drip rate) is total volume (in mL) divided by time (in min), multiplied by the drop factor (in gtts/mL), which equals the IV flow rate in gtts/min.

The formula for calculating the IV flow rate (drip rate) is… total volume (in mL) divided by time (in min), multiplied by the drop factor (in gtts/mL), which equals the IV flow rate in gtts/min.

The drops per minute would be calculated as total volume, divided by time (in minutes), multiplied by the drop factor of 60 gtts/min, which also equals 41.6, rounded to 42 drops per minute.

The drop factor is the amount of drops that makes up 1 milliliter of IV solution. For micro drip tubing, this value is 60 drops per milliliter. This means that 60 drops from a micro drip tube equals 1 milliliter of solution (1 mL).

The common drop factors are 10 drops/ml (blood set), 15 drops / ml (regular set) and 60 drops / ml (microdrop). Drops per minute (dpm) is a measure which can be calculated based on the time, drop factor and total volume of liquid (or) fluid.