Detection of particles in intravenous fluids using scanning electron microscopy.

A study was conducted to compare the particles in intravenous solutions found in glass and plastic containers, and to investigate the use of scanning electron microscopy in detecting and identifying such particulate contamination. The method used was to filter one liter of each fluid from glass and plastic containers through a membrane filter, attach the membrane to aluminum studs and coat the specimens with a thin layer of gold-palladium in a vacuum evaporator. Scanning electron microscopy was then used to examine the specimens, and photomicrographs were prepared. The results showed that the particles found in glass and in plastic containers have distinctive differences and that scanning electron microscopy is useful in detecting and characterizing these particles.