3-7. REQUIREMENTS FOR INTRAVENOUS SOLUTIONS/INTRAVENOUS ADMIXTURES

Any solution administered through a patient's veins must be:

a. Sterile. Sterile means that no living microorganisms are present in the solution.

b. Pyrogen-Free. Pyrogens are substances that produce fever when injected into the circulatory system.

c. Free from Visible Particulate Matter. Visible particles in an intravenous preparation mean that the product should be discarded. These particles could have been present in the solution when it arrived in the pharmacy or they may have been accidentally added to the solution when other substances were added. Regardless of origin, these visible particles, if intravenously administered, could cause a blockage in the patient's circulatory system. Filters with very small pores are available which can remove these visible particles as the product is being administered. Remember, the origin of the particles is unknown-it is possible that some particles could be undissolved drug. Removing the drug particles would be good, but if the filtered particles are undissolved drug, by removing them you may be lowering the amount of drug in the solution.