Convert mL into units?!

Convert mL into units?!

I'm practicing for my drug calc retake and there's another question that is plaguing me. 

Order: Heparin 28mL/hr

Available: 25,000units/500mL

What is the dose being delivered? ____units/hr

Again, I'm not looking for the answer as I already have it (1400units/hr)

I just need some help figuring out a conversion...one of these bogus sites said 40u=1ml

(28x40= 1120. 1120/25000x500=22.4) and another said 1 unit = .01ml. (28x.01=0.28. Which I already know from looking at it, it won't work.) So, they both don't work out. I have no idea where to go from here! Sigh. 

Can anyone point me in the right direction?! I BEG you! 

5 Answers

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Why are you looking for a conversion? You already have the answer.1400 units per hour.

You don't have to convert mls TO units. You have to figure out how many units are in a ml.25,000 divided by 500 is 50. So 50 units per ml.If they are getting 28mls per hour, they are getting 1400 units per hour. That's all the question is asking.

There is no fixed equivalency for units to mls.It all depends on how the drug is mixed.

One cc of insulin could have 40,80,or 100 units. One cc of heparin could have 100 units or 5000 units. There is no such thing as a ml-to-unit conversion.

You've done it right in the first place. So why are you looking to do something different?

Don't overthink this, or go looking for a shortcut that doesn't really save you time and gives you the wrong answer in the bargain. ?

The formula to find the answer is order x label: 28ml/1 x 25000units/500ml=1400units/hr

Ohhhh. Gotcha! Many thanks! 

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
GrnTea said:

One cc of insulin could have 40,80,or 100 units. One cc of heparin could have 100 units or 5000 units. There is no such thing as a ml-to-unit conversion.

You've done it right in the first place. So why are you looking to do something different?

Don't overthink this, or go looking for a shortcut that doesn't really save you time and gives you the wrong answer in the bargain. ?

Does insulin still come in U-40 and U-80? Just curious. I know there is a new U-500 concentration, but as I work in peds we do not see it and are forbidden to even stock it.

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