How to Convert Ratio of MLS to Solution

Failure to administer the correct quantity of prescribed drugs can cost a patient her life. Between 1998 and 2003, accidental overdoses of acetaminophen, a commonly used pain-killer, resulted in 131 cases of acute liver failure, according to a study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Health care professionals denote the concentration of liquid medicines as weight/volume or volume/volume solutions. The strength of volume/volume solutions is calculated as the ratio of drug volume in milliliters to medication volume in milliliters (ml/ml). Alternatively, it is expressed as a percentage solution strength.

Instructions

Instructions

• 1

  Check the ratio of ml/ml in the solution and write it down. The ratio may be expressed as a fraction or a decimal. For example, if there are 40 ml of drug in 1000 ml of medication, then the ratio may be in the form 40 ml/1000 ml, or 0.04 ml/ml (40 divided by 1000).

• 2

  Check whether the ratio is a fraction and if so, convert it to a decimal, using the calculator to divide the numerator by the denominator. Write down the answer, which should be less than one. If the ratio is already a decimal, leave it unchanged.

• 3

  Multiply the decimal ratio by 100 to convert it to a percentage. The result is the ratio of ml/ml in the solution converted to a percentage solution. For example, if the decimal ratio is 0.04, then the solution is a 4 percent solution by volume, written as "4% (v/v)."

• 4

  Check your answer, which should be a percentage value less than 100 percent. If the result is greater than 100 percent, there is an error in your calculation and you should repeat each step.