How many units?

[GaPharmGirl09]

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If you have a 5ml vial labeled U5000, how many units are in the vial?
If you have a 10ml vial labeled U5000, how many units are in the vial?

Thanks,
Diane

 

[sdn1977]

USP require the units be specific per unit of fluid. Many years ago, prefilled syringes & vials were labeled just as you specify & there were a number of cases of massive overdose (ie...5000 units/ml was misinterpreted as 5000 units per vial...10 ml vial was 50,000 units - not 5000 units). So...labeling was changed. But...I'm thinking this is an assignment (???? so very much like a similar post 😉....

If the labeling is as you state on the paper you were given: U5000 (which is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE, BTW!!!!!!) ask for clarification. Thats what pharmacists do - clarify ambiguous rxs.

For all you folks just starting...IMO...begin as you mean to go on...do NOT use U for units (for heparin, insulin or anything else) since it can be misconstrued as a number, even if it is used before the number. Spell out the word "units" - over the course of your cinical life, it won't make any difference in the amount of time, ink or muscle you use - but it may prevent a tremendous drug error (sorry for the rant!).

 

[lihini]

If you have a 5ml vial labeled U5000, how many units are in the vial?
If you have a 10ml vial labeled U5000, how many units are in the vial?

Thanks,
Diane

A 5ml vial labeled U5000 will have 25000 units and the 10ml vial labeled U5000 will have 50000 units. U5000 stands for 5000 units per 1mL, so 5mL should have 25000units ie. ( (5000units/ 1mL ) * 5mL = 25000 units. Similarly by multiplying the 5000 units by 10 you get 50000 units in the 10mL vial.
We were taught never to use 'u' for units and to just write out 'units' in front of the number. Hope this helps!

 

[GaPharmGirl09]

That's what I thought, but when I kept getting an answer that was not one of my choices (a different problem using this information), I thought I'd get a second opinion. Turns out the instructor did not post the answer choices correctly.

Thanks for the responses!