You need to measure gentamicin 80 mg from a vial with a concentration of 40 mg/ml. What volume should be measured?

To determine the volume of gentamicin needed for an 80 mg dose when the concentration of the solution is 40 mg/ml, you can use the formula:

[

\text{Volume} = \frac{\text{Desired Dose}}{\text{Concentration}}

]

By substituting the values in, this becomes:

[

\text{Volume} = \frac{80 \text{ mg}}{40 \text{ mg/ml}} = 2 \text{ ml}

]

This calculation indicates that to achieve the desired dose of 80 mg, you need to measure out 2 ml of the gentamicin solution. Knowing how to manipulate this formula is essential for pharmacy technicians because it helps ensure accurate dosing, which is critical for patient safety and therapeutic effectiveness.

The concentration tells you how much drug is contained in each milliliter, thereby allowing you to easily determine how many milliliters are needed for any given dose.