What rate should the nurse program for anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) infusion given the dose 4.5 mg/kg for a 60 kg patient, volume 25 mg per 10 mL, infused over 6 hours?

What rate should the nurse program for anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) infusion given the dose 4.5 mg/kg for a 60 kg patient, volume 25 mg per 10 mL, infused over 6 hours?

• A. 6 ml/hr
• B. 9 ml/hr
• C. 18 ml/hr
• D. 36 ml/hr

Answer: (C)

Infusion rate is the total volume to be infused divided by the infusion time. Start by calculating the total dose: 4.5 mg/kg × 60 kg = 270 mg. With a concentration of 25 mg in 10 mL (which is 2.5 mg/mL), the volume needed for 270 mg is 270 ÷ 2.5 = 108 mL. Infusing 108 mL over 6 hours gives 108 ÷ 6 = 18 mL per hour. So the correct rate is 18 mL/hr. If you used other rates, they would deliver a volume that’s too high or too low for the 6-hour infusion.

Infusion rate is the total volume to be infused divided by the infusion time. Start by calculating the total dose: 4.5 mg/kg × 60 kg = 270 mg. With a concentration of 25 mg in 10 mL (which is 2.5 mg/mL), the volume needed for 270 mg is 270 ÷ 2.5 = 108 mL. Infusing 108 mL over 6 hours gives 108 ÷ 6 = 18 mL per hour. So the correct rate is 18 mL/hr. If you used other rates, they would deliver a volume that’s too high or too low for the 6-hour infusion.