With the 21g Terumo needles I have not noticed any difference in the total speed between 15 drop/ml and 20 drop/ml. The drops go faster in the 20drop/ml of course because they are smaller and take more drops to get the same flow rate. When I get it right it is a virtual stream and not so much drops. I've had some sessions with the 20drop/ml and the 21g Terumos that seemed to go very fast. But I have not objectively timed it to see if there was any difference.
Mr. Jacobson's page has a timed trial between various needles. I don't think he did 21g Terumo with 20 drop set vs Terumo 21g 15 drop set. So you may just have to take my word that with the 21g Terumo needles I did not notice any difference. :smile:
The lower the number the faster it flows BUT and this is a HUGE BUT it is the needle that is the real limiter of speed below 20 drop/ml.
http://members.verizon.net/~vze2r6qt/su ... eedles.htm
http://members.verizon.net/~vze2r6qt/su ... owtest.htm
# A fixture was made that held the needle end of a 78" long Abbott Labs' 15 drops/per mL Venoset pointing straight down into a graduated cylinder marked at 100 mL.
...
# Tests were repeated using a 10 drops per mL Baxter IV set - flow times were the same.
So that shown no difference between 10 and 15 drop/ml but not 20 and 15 drop/ml.
I think they used 15 drop/ml in that test. Shop med vet does have cheap 15 drop/ml but I think with longer tubing 100" instead of 72." My thinking on that is that I prefer the shorter because that's less cold fluid going though to tubing before the warm hits.
http://www.shopmedvet.com/category/iv-a ... ation-sets
Some of them you have to call shopmedvet and ASK how many drops/ml they are. 800-544-7521 - they are usually very helpful. In the past I think I got 15 drop/ml B-brauns from thrivingpets in the past. It was more hassle because they require Rx and they cost a lot more - like $4 a set or something 'crazy' like that. You could always get some cheapo 15drop/ml from shopmedvet and do your own experiments with whatever needles you intend on using.
A bit of what I'm saying is per Mr. Jacobson as I had even emailed him to ask if I would notice any difference between 20 drop and 10 drop.
If you want thing to go faster then you should probably up to a larger needle or even do the butterfly set method/syringe method which you basically syringe it in and might be able to use even smaller needles??
http://www.felinecrf.org/giving_sub-qs_ ... nge_method
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cat_fluids.aspx
Since I use the 21g Terumo needles exclusively I cannot say if a 15 drop/ml set would go faster with a larger needle.
You could always try to email Mr. Jacobson yourself and ask if you went with a bigger needle like a 20g Terumo or other] if he thought the difference between a 15 drop and 20 drop would make a difference.
The specialness of the UTW of the Terumo stops at 20g.
I chose and like the 21g Terumos because I view them as the best compromise between size and speed per the needle chart I linked to earlier. If you got a couple 100ml leuer lock syringes [or a few 60ml ones even] and a butterfly set, I would imagine you could probably make the process go faster for S.
