Using a vial mate items can be shipped un-reconstituted and you can put them together safely in your home
A vial mate connects the drug to the diluent (saline or D5W) so that shelf life is extended, and the drug can be shipped without refrigeration. There are several advantages to this system but the main disadvantage is the patient must activate the vial, then squeeze the bag until fluid flows into the vial of medication, then mix, and now the patient is ready for the infusion
Infusing with a connector from the medication to the IV bag.
Certain medications have a short stability. In other words, they may not be potent once mixed longer than a few days (or even a week) For that reason they can not be mixed before delivery to the patient. At Infuserve America, we use specialized connectors that connect the medication to the IV bag. The system is simple to use and not very complicated.
What is a vial mate? A vial mate device is a connector that attaches a vial of medication and a bag of diluent such as Saline or Dextrose in water.
The system is assembled in an aseptic environment and shipped to the patient. One side has a needle that penetrates the bag of IV fluid. The other side is attached to the medication container but the needle on that side has not penetrated the container of medication.
Before starting your infusion READ all the material that is presented on this instruction sheet.
First gather all materials together for your infusion. You will need the following:
paper towel
alcohol wipes
IV bag with the connector and medication attached. (It’s all in one piece)
IV tubing
10cc syringes with Normal Saline (Syringe may be 12cc with 10cc of saline in the syringe
5 cc 100U heparin – central access (Syringe may be 12cc with 5cc of heparin)
sterile end cap (if you are going to infuse more than once a day)
IV pole or S hook
You’ll also need an antibacterial soap.
This is how you infuse your medication.
1. Wash hands as you were instructed by your nurse or Doctor. It should be a thorough hand washing, not just a quickie. Use an antibacterial soap such as Dial or a liquid antibacterial soap.
2. Gather necessary supplies, place on a clean dry surface.
3. Wash hands again, after you have assembled everything. This seems repetitive, and it is, but it should be. Use an antibacterial soap such as Dial or a liquid antibacterial soap.
4. Check the medication, solution or fluid label for correct patient name, accurate drug, dosage, and expiration date. Check the IV bag for particles, precipitate, leaks or defects. If present, do not use that IV bag, use a fresh one and call Infuserve America to report the problem after your infusion is completed.
5. Get the Saline flush, Heparin flush, IV tubing and medication that is attached to the IV bag. place them in front of you. Look at the IV tubing, and make sure the clamp on the tubing is closed so no liquid will flow through the tubing. Set up the IV pole or S hook in a location such that the IV bag when hung, is above the vein in the arm through which the IV medication will flow.
6. Prepare the medication. You do this by activating the vial. Perform the following steps
A. Hold the vial gripper and port adaptor assemblies firmly then twist slightly to align the ribs of the blue port adaptor and the white vial gripper.
B. Push the blue port adaptor assembly into the white vial gripper until the blue plastic meets the white vial gripper.
C. Hold the bag with the vial down and squeeze the solution into the vial until half full.
When the vial is half full, shake the vial to mix the drug
It may take some time for the drug to dissolve
Keep shaking the vial until the drug is completely dissolved.
Once the drug has completely dissolved, hold the bag with the vial upside down and squeeze the bag to force air into the vial.
Release the bag and you will see the drug drip down into the IV bag.
Now that the drug has mixed thoroughly you area ready to proceed with your infusion
7. With the IV tubing, spike the bag.
Spike the bag, means that you should pull off the blue cap from the end of the IV bag. Then (after removing the protective cover from the IV tubing) press the pointed end of that IV tubing into the IV bag.
8. Place the IV bag with the medication on the IV pole or S hook. The IV bag should be higher than the patient’s head.
9. Prime the tubing (that means let the fluid from inside the IV bag run into the IV set, or tubing) You do that by unclamping the white clamp that is on the tubing set. You will see a drop of fluid come out of the end of the line. Clamp the line when the first drop comes out (and there is no air in the line. If there is air in the line, allow fluid to run until all the air is gone. A few champagne like bubbles are no problem, but big spaces of are could be a problem.
10. Swab the adapter that is on the end of your IV access. (On the end of the line that goes into your vein). Flush the access route with saline as your nurse instructed you.
11. Remove the protective cap from the end of the IV line, and insert it into the Clave. Tape securely if desired.
12. Unclamp and allow your IV to run. It should take about as much time as it states on the prescription label.
13. Upon completion of the infusion, close the clamp on the tubing. Remove the end of the IV line from the clave adapter of the access route.
14. Put a sterile cap on the end of the IV Line if you are doing more than one infusion in 48 hours. That’s probably labeled on the package “Non vented male luer cap.” Currently we’re using Churchill Medical Systems, non vented male luer caps, but we may use others too!
15. Flush the access route with saline and Heparin as you were instructed. Remember SASH for Saline, Antibiotic, Saline then Heparin. So you will use Saline after your infusion, and then you will use Heparin as a final flush.
16. Discard all waste and wash hands if you’re only infusing once a day. VERY IMPORTANT if you are infusing more than once a day, you must use the same IV line again.
The empty IV bag is connected to the IV tubing and on the end it should now have a sterile end cap. Place the IV bag and tubing with the sterile end cap on it into the refrigerator until it’s time for your next infusion. At that time you will take the IV bag and tubing out of the refrigerator (about 1/2 hour before your infusion) and place it with your other supplies for your next infusion. Just before you’re ready to infuse (but after you’ve mixed the medication and the IV fluid, so that your IV bag is ready for the infusion) remove the IV line from the OLD IV bag and use it to spike the NEW IV bag. You can then discard the old IV bag.
Saline bag with a Vial Mate Attached.
Please note: there are several different connector systems Some have a plastic spike, some a ring inside the IV bag, some a plastic needle that you have to push. You should check with Infuserve America before you start your procedure to get the exact make of the connector you will be using.