IV Fluids, Parenteral Nutrition & Plasma Substitutes
Crystalloid infusion solutions, energy substrates and parenteral nutrition components — the fluid-resuscitation and supportive-care layer underneath almost every inpatient protocol.
The WHO Model List carries sodium chloride 0.9% isotonic, equivalent to Na⁺ 154 mmol/L and Cl⁻ 154 mmol/L, together with glucose and sodium chloride combinations at 4% + 0.18%, 5% + 0.9% and 5% + 0.45%. They sit under solutions correcting water, electrolyte and acid-base disturbances.
At a glance
- Sodium chloride 0.9% and three glucose/sodium chloride combinations are specified on the WHO Model List.
- The Model List publishes the electrolyte content of each crystalloid it carries.
- Lactated Ringer's is a balanced crystalloid with a more physiological electrolyte profile than 0.9% saline.
- Infusion solutions are bulky — compare delivered cost per litre, not unit price per bag.
- Human albumin 20% is blood-derived and carries a separate regulatory pathway in most markets.
01What the published guidance says
Every statement below is drawn from WHO or MSF published material and linked to its source. We summarise; we do not reproduce. Statements marked as our own are commercial positions, not clinical guidance.
The Model List specifies the crystalloid formulations
The 24th WHO Model List (2025) carries sodium chloride 0.9% isotonic (equivalent to Na⁺ 154 mmol/L and Cl⁻ 154 mmol/L) and glucose + sodium chloride combinations of 4% + 0.18%, 5% + 0.9% and 5% + 0.45%, classified under solutions correcting water, electrolyte and acid-base disturbances. Glucose + sodium chloride was first added in 1979.
Electrolyte composition is what separates saline from balanced solutions
The Model List publishes the electrolyte content of each crystalloid it carries: sodium chloride 0.9% at Na⁺ 154 mmol/L and Cl⁻ 154 mmol/L, the 5% + 0.9% glucose/sodium chloride combination at 150 mmol/L, and the 5% + 0.45% combination at 75 mmol/L. Comparing those figures against plasma composition is how a formulary committee decides which fluid to standardise on — and why lactated Ringer's, with a more physiological profile, is frequently the resuscitation default.
Presentation is part of the specification
WHO's criterion for an essential medicine includes that it be available in appropriate dosage forms for the intended uses and patients. For infusion solutions that criterion is expressed as fill volume and container format — the difference between a 500 mL bottle and a 1 L bag is a formulary decision before it becomes a price decision.
Human albumin is a blood-derived product with its own regulatory pathway
Human albumin 20% is supplied as a plasma volume substitute in hypovolaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. Because it is derived from human plasma, most markets apply separate requirements covering plasma sourcing, donor screening and viral inactivation. Confirm the documentation format your regulator expects before ordering.
02Products in this therapeutic group
Each entry links to its full specification page.
| Product | Dosage form | Presentation notes | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fructose Injection 5 grams per 250ml | Injection | View Fructose Injection 5 grams per 250ml → | |
| 5% Glucose / Dextrose Injection 500ml | Injection | View 5% Glucose / Dextrose Injection 500ml → | |
| 10% Glucose / Dextrose Injection 500ml | Injection | View 10% Glucose / Dextrose Injection 500ml → | |
| Lactated Ringer’s Injection 500mL | Injection | View Lactated Ringer’s Injection 500mL → | |
| 20% Fat Emulsion Injectio | Injection | View 20% Fat Emulsion Injectio → | |
| Human Albumin 20% 50ml | Injection | IV Infusion for Hypovolemia & Hypoalbuminemia | View Human Albumin 20% 50ml → |
6 products in this group · part of 186 finished dosage forms across 14 therapeutic areas.
03Specifying your order
The five things worth stating on a purchase order for this group, so the quotation comes back right first time.
Fill volume
State the fill volume per container, because packaging and freight change the landed cost per litre substantially.
Container format
Glass bottle, plastic bottle or bag. Confirm which your infusion sets and storage are designed for.
Electrolyte specification
Give the exact composition, for example 5% glucose with 0.9% sodium chloride, not simply a product family name.
Overfill
Specify the permitted overfill, since it affects the deliverable volume and in some markets the labelling.
Albumin documentation
For human albumin, confirm the plasma sourcing, donor screening and viral-inactivation documentation format your regulator requires.
04How we supply it
Standardised GMP production workshops with an independent R&D laboratory and a complete quality-inspection centre.
Crystalloids
Glucose 5% and 10%, lactated Ringer's, fructose injection, and glucose/sodium chloride combinations.
Parenteral nutrition
20% fat emulsion and amino-acid and energy substrates for compounding and parenteral nutrition programmes.
Plasma substitute
Human albumin 20% 50 mL for hypovolaemia and hypoalbuminaemia, supplied with batch viral-safety documentation.
Landed-cost planning
Container format, fill volume, secondary packaging and pallet configuration are confirmed at quotation so you can compare true delivered cost per litre.
05Safety, labelling & regulatory notes
Points worth carrying into your tender, label review or clinical briefing.
- Blood-derived products such as human albumin are subject to separate regulatory pathways in most markets. Confirm the destination's requirements for plasma sourcing and viral-inactivation documentation before ordering.
- Fluid overload is an identified harm. Promotional material should not imply that more volume is better.
- Hypotonic solutions carry a hyponatraemia risk in children. Confirm your formulary's guidance before specifying paediatric maintenance fluids.
- Compare delivered cost, not unit price. Container format and fill volume materially change the freight component.
06Questions buyers ask
6 answers covering specification, documentation and regulatory questions for this group.
Which infusion solutions are on the WHO Model List?
Do you supply lactated Ringer's solution?
Can you supply human albumin?
How should we compare fluid prices between suppliers?
Why does container format change the price so much?
Do you supply parenteral nutrition components?
07Related therapeutic areas
Adjacent groups you may want to combine on one purchase order.
Request a quotation for IV Fluids
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