First order kinetic demonstrated by the logarithm of the dobutamine concentration in CIVAS syringes as a function of time, where (♦) represents 4°C (protected from light), (■) represents room temperature (protected from light), (▲) represents 40°C (protected from light) and (●) represents room temperature (exposed to light). First order kinetic demonstrated by the logarithm of the dobutamine concentration in CIVAS syringes as a function of time, where (♦) represents 4°C (protected from light), (■) represents room temperature (protected from light), (▲) represents 40°C (protected from light) and (●) represents room temperature (exposed to light). Regression analysis was used to obtain the best fit; linear equations and their correlation coefficients are provided in table 2. Nilesh Patel et al. Eur J Hosp Pharm doi:10.1136/ejhpharm-2011-000027 ©2012 by British Medical Journal Publishing Group