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Comparison of plasma with commonly used intravenous solutions

Comparison of plasma with commonly used intravenous solutions
  Sodium Potassium Calcium Magnesium Chloride Acetate Lactate Gluconate Bicarbonate Osmolarity
Plasma 135-145 mEq/L 3.5-5.0 mEq/L

2.2-2.6 mEq/L

4.4-5.2 mg/dL

1.1-1.3 mmol/L

0.8-1.0 mEq/L

1.0-1.2 mg/dL

0.4-0.5 mmol/L

 94-111 mEq/L – 1-2 mEq/L – – 275-295 mOsm/L
Plasma water* 145-156 mEq/L 3.8-5.4 mEq/L

2.4-2.8 mEq/L

4.8-5.6 mg/dL

1.2-1.4 mmol/L

0.9-1.1 mEq/L

1.1-1.3 mg/dL

0.5-0.6 mmol/L

 101-119 mEq/L – 1.1-2.2 mEq/L – – 295-317 mOsm/L
Intravenous solutions
  • Sodium chloride injection, USP[1]
154 mEq/L – – – 154 mEq/L – – – – 308 mOsm/L
  • Lactated Ringer's injection, USP[2]
130 mEq/L 4.0 mEq/L

2.7 mEq/L

5.4 mg/dL

1.4 mmol/L

 – 109 mEq/L – 28 mEq/L – – 273 mOsm/L
  • Plasma-Lyte A[3]
140 mEq/L 5.0 mEq/L –

3.0 mEq/L

3.7 mg/dL

1.5 mmol/L

 98 mEq/L 27 mEq/L – 23 mEq/L – 294 mOsm/L
  • 0.45% Sodium chloride injection, USP[1] with added sodium bicarbonate[4]
141 mEq/L – – – 72 mEq/L – – – 70 mEq/L 283 mOsm/L
* Plasma is approximately 93% aqueous; concentrations in plasma water calculated as plasma concentration ÷ 0.93.
¶ This solution can be mixed by adding 75 mL of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to 1 liter of 0.45% normal saline.
Data from:
  1. Sodium Chloride Injection, USP. Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/016677s137lbl.pdf (Accessed on April 23, 2018).
  2. Lactated Ringer's Injection, USP. Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/016679s104,016682s105,016692s095,019367s026lbl.pdf (Accessed on April 23, 2018).
  3. PLASMA-LYTE 148 Injection (Multiple Electrolytes Injection, Type 1, USP). Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/017451s060,017378s065lbl.pdf (Accessed on April 23, 2018).
  4. Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP. Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/077394lbl.pdf (Accessed on April 24, 2018).
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