1. Reading Drug Labels, Medicine Cups, Syringes, & Intravenous Fluid Administration Bags
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2. Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags
Page 168
Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags
Reading medication labels is part of the workplace skills for the allied health career. Most prescription drug labels contain certain information:
Name
Information presented
Generic name
Indicates that the drug is not protected by trademark; it is the nonproprietary name
Trade name
Indicates the brand name; may have a ® or ™

3. Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Page 168
Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Name
Information presented
National Drug Code (NDC) number
Identifies the manufactureer, medication, & the container size
Lot number (control number)
Placed on the label prior to shipping to identify the lot
Drug form
Indicates cream, capsule, caplet, drop, tablet, suppository, syrup, etc.

4. Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Page 168
Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Name
Information presented
Dosage strength
Provides the stregth per dose as in tablet, milliliter, syrup, etc.
Usual adult dose
Indicates the usual adult dose for typical use
Total amount in vial, packet, box
Indicates the total number of items in the container

5. Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Page 168
Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Name
Information presented
Prescription warning
Indicates that the medication is a prescription drug
Expiration date
Provides the last date that the medication should be taken, applied, or used

6. Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Page 173
Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Medicine cups are used to dispose liquid medications such as cough syrup & Maalox or milk of magnesia. The solution is poured into the medicine cup. The reading is made from a level counter top to ensure accuracy.

7. Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Page 173
Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Syringes are labels in tenths & hundredths. The barrel of the syringe has markings in milliliters (mL), or units. Sometimes cubic centimeter (cc) & minim (m) are used. The units indicate volume.

8. Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Page 174
Reading Labels, Cups, Syringes, & IV Bags: Cont.
Determining the amount of liquid remaining in an IV bag is straightforward. Most IV bags today are made from durable plastic. Intravenous bags as supplied in a variety of sizes: 250 mL, 500 mL, & 1,000 mL. Smaller bags are available for mixing specific medications & these come in 100 mL. The capacity is noted on the bag. The bag is read by subtracting the volume of the infused fluid from the capacity noted on the bag.