The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of infusion container design on the volume of residual drug solution following use in a clinical setting. 0.9% （w/v） NaCl infusion solution containers （5 types, each of three capacities： 100 mL, 250 mL and 500 mL） following clinical use for in-patients at Peking University Third Hospital were collected during Sept. and Oct. 2007. The volume of residual drug solution was determined. Hospital pharmacy records were used to determine the potential economic implications of discarding residual drug solutions. The mean residual volumes ranged from 0.38 mL to 4.80 mL and, in general, residual volume increased with increasing container capacity. The residual volumes for one type of double-port soft bag were significantly lower than the residual volumes for all other containers of the same capacity （P〈0.05）, including glass and semi-rigid plastic bottles. Highest residual volumes were observed for the single-port soft bag. Estimates of the value of discarded residual drug solution ranged from approximately US $15,000 to US $150,000 per annum in our hospital. Infusion container design has a major influence on residual drug solution volumes following intravenous infusion. Appropriate choice of bag design remains an important consideration for the economics and efficacy of infusion treatment in Chinese hospitals.
