Marking on IV bags

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Anyone know if this is a strict no no or just another nursing/medical myth? Some of our nurses and anesthesilogists will write on the IV bag(yes the lazy way) if they add a med in O.R for example, on the bag. Or they make a mark denoting how much fluid given.,..Is it true that the pen or marker will leach into the fluid through the plastic? Thanks. Just wondering.

[suzanne4, RN]

I always use masking tape to mark levels, when I need to............meds should really have a sticker on them.

[TazziRN, RN]

Meds get marked on a sticker meant for that purpose. I do mark on bags, but only when I'm dumping fluid in and need to keep track of how many bags have been hung, especially when there are multiple lines. That way it's also possible for everyone else to know at a glance how much fluid has been run in.

[nursprl]

one of the iv manufacturers sent a memo/letter out around this time last year recommending not marking on the bags b/c it does leech through the bags and into the fluid. all bags need to have some sort of label or sticker indicating time and date hung, who hung it, and any meds added to original fluid.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

I will just start carrying some plain sticky labels in my pockets so I can quickly "mark" the bags without fear of leaching or whatever. Now, to convice the anethesiologists to use the PREMADE stickers they have available at each cart....

[nursprl]

Now, to convice the anethesiologists to use the PREMADE stickers they have available at each cart....

Good luck on that one. If you can find written material that indicates ink leeching, that might convice them.

[smk1, LPN]

Anyone know if this is a strict no no or just another nursing/medical myth? Some of our nurses and anesthesilogists will write on the IV bag(yes the lazy way) if they add a med in O.R for example, on the bag. Or they make a mark denoting how much fluid given.,..Is it true that the pen or marker will leach into the fluid through the plastic? Thanks. Just wondering.

As a student who just went over some I.V. material, it is stated in our books that you need to use a sticker strip because the marker "could" leach into the bag.

[freymaria]

when i was a student we used to do this before.. it was a provincial hospital.. in the philippines..

please provide any link for any explanation re: pen leeking.. thanks!!!

[abq rn]

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/psn/printer.cfm?id=186

Go take a look at this report. It has a bit at the end about ink and IV bags.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the good link ABQGRANT

[Mr.Sandman]

I emailed the ISMP (Institute for Safe Medicine Practices) - the response I got was indicated that there has been minimal written about this topic & referred me to a 2002 newsletter where the last two sentences indicated that testing has not been done on writing on IV bags with magic markers. "Thus, volatile chemicals from the ink MAY reach the iv solution."

This does not sound very evidence based to me. It sounds more like legal base covering. I am really interested in all you infusion RNs out there to point out a scientific study to me that spells it out in black & white about writing on a bag of fluids.