The order is Epogen 1200 units subcut. On hand is Epogen 2000 units/mL. What is the correct amount to be administered?

The order is Epogen 1200 units subcut. On hand is Epogen 2000 units/mL. What is the correct amount to be administered?

• A. 0.6 mL
• B. 0.5 mL
• C. 1 mL
• D. 0.3 mL

Answer: (A)

The main idea is converting a dose given in units to a volume using the drug’s concentration. You use volume (mL) = required units ÷ concentration (units per mL). Here, you need 1200 units and the solution is 2000 units per mL. So 1200 ÷ 2000 = 0.6 mL. That means administering 0.6 mL will deliver 1200 units. To see why other amounts wouldn’t fit: 0.5 mL would be 0.5 × 2000 = 1000 units, 1 mL would be 2000 units, and 0.3 mL would be 600 units.

The main idea is converting a dose given in units to a volume using the drug’s concentration. You use volume (mL) = required units ÷ concentration (units per mL).

Here, you need 1200 units and the solution is 2000 units per mL. So 1200 ÷ 2000 = 0.6 mL. That means administering 0.6 mL will deliver 1200 units.

To see why other amounts wouldn’t fit: 0.5 mL would be 0.5 × 2000 = 1000 units, 1 mL would be 2000 units, and 0.3 mL would be 600 units.