Oxytocin Infusion Rate Calculator
Oxytocin for labour induction or augmentation is ordered in milliunits per minute (mU/min), but infusion pumps are set in millilitres per hour (mL/hr). This calculator converts between the two using the concentration of the bag you have prepared. You enter the prescribed dose, the units of oxytocin in the bag, and the bag volume; it returns the bag concentration and the required pump rate. It performs arithmetic only and does not recommend a dose. Oxytocin is a high-alert medication, so all orders and pump settings must follow your institution's protocol and be independently verified.
Infusion rate formula
Concentration (mU/mL) = units in bag * 1000 / bag volume (mL)
Pump rate (mL/hr) = dose (mU/min) * 60 / concentration
Dose per hour (mU/hr) = dose (mU/min) * 60
One unit equals 1,000 milliunits, and one hour equals 60 minutes. These two conversions are the only constants used; every clinical value stays an editable input.
Safe-use context
- Oxytocin is widely classified as a high-alert medication.
- Bag preparation and dosing regimens vary by institution.
- Pump rates should be double-checked by a second clinician where required.
- Always confirm the concentration printed on the prepared bag label.
- Continuous fetal and uterine monitoring accompanies oxytocin infusion.
Oxytocin infusion rate: frequently asked questions
What does this calculator do?
It converts a prescribed oxytocin dose, expressed in milliunits per minute (mU/min), into an infusion pump rate in millilitres per hour (mL/hr), based on the concentration of the bag you have prepared. It is a unit-conversion tool; it does not recommend a dose.
How is the concentration worked out?
Concentration in milliunits per millilitre equals the units of oxytocin in the bag, multiplied by 1,000 to convert units to milliunits, divided by the total bag volume in millilitres. For example, 30 units in 500 mL gives 60 mU/mL.
What is the rate formula?
Rate in mL/hr equals the dose in mU/min, multiplied by 60 to convert minutes to hours, divided by the concentration in mU/mL. So 6 mU/min at 60 mU/mL gives 6 times 60 divided by 60, which is 6 mL/hr.
Why are the dose and bag values user inputs?
Dosing protocols and bag preparations vary by institution and clinical situation. To avoid presenting any single regimen as universal, the dose, bag units, and bag volume are all editable so the tool reflects your own verified order and preparation.
Does this replace clinical judgement?
No. Oxytocin is a high-alert medication. Orders, preparation, pump programming, and monitoring must follow your institution's protocol and be independently verified. This tool performs arithmetic only and is for education.
Official sources
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed: Drug labelling.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Clinical guidance.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 17 June 2026. See our methodology.