Diluting Medications Calculator

In clinical practice, medication doses may be too small for accurate measurement, particularly when treating pediatric patients or using highly concentrated formulations.

Dilution of medications is a common technique to increase the administered volume, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy and ensuring safe administration.

The process of medication dilution can be summarized in three key steps:

Step 1: Calculate the Dilution Factor

Divide stock concentration by desired concentration.

Step 2: Determine the Neat Drug Volume

Divide total diluted volume by the dilution factor.

Example Calculation:

Given:

• Stock concentration: [stock concentration] mg/mL

• Desired concentration: [desired concentration] mg/mL

• Total diluted volume: [total diluted volume] mL

1. Calculate the dilution factor:

Dilution factor = Stock concentration ÷ Desired concentration

= [stock concentration] mg/mL ÷ [desired concentration] mg/mL

= [dilution factor]

2. Calculate the neat drug volume:

Neat drug volume = Total diluted volume ÷ Dilution factor

= [total diluted volume] mL ÷ [dilution factor]

= [neat drug volume] mL

3. Calculate the diluent volume:

Diluent volume = Total diluted volume - Neat drug volume

= [total diluted volume] mL - [neat drug volume] mL

= [diluent volume] mL

Final Result:

• Neat drug volume to add: [neat drug volume] mL

• Diluent volume to add: [diluent volume] mL

• Total diluted volume: [total diluted volume] mL

• Final concentration: [desired concentration] mg/mL

Formulas Used:

Dilution Factor = Stock ConcentrationDesired Concentration\frac{\text{Stock Concentration}}{\text{Desired Concentration}}

Neat Drug Volume (mL) = Total Diluted VolumeDilution Factor\frac{\text{Total Diluted Volume}}{\text{Dilution Factor}}

Diluent Volume (mL) = Total Diluted Volume−Neat Drug Volume\text{Total Diluted Volume} - \text{Neat Drug Volume}