Several factors determine when an administration set needs to be changed: type of infusion (continuous verses intermittent), immediately upon suspected contamination, or when the integrity of the administration set system has been compromised. The following chart lists recommended administration set change frequencies based off of Infusion Nurse Society, Centers for Disease Control current standards of practice.

Download a printable copy of the
Administration Set Change Poster

This reference correlates to the online continuing education courses in our Infusion Section.

ADMINISTRATION TYPE	ADMINISTRATION SET	SET CHANGE FREQUENCY
Continuous (Infusions NOT containing blood, blood products or Intravenous fat emulsions)	Primary Set Secondary "piggyback" set	If infusate is administered continuously via primary or secondary administration set, including add-on devices, change set(s) no more frequently than at 96 hour intervals, but at least every 7 days.¹ Primary and secondary continuous administration sets should be changed no more frequently than every 96 hours. Extending the administration set change to every 7 days may be considered when an anti-infective central vascular access device is being used.²
Intermittent (Infusions NOT containing blood, blood products or Intravenous fat emulsions)	Primary Set	No frequency recommendation. Unresolved issue. ¹ Replace set every 24 hours. ²
Intravenous Fat Emulsion (IVFE) TPN containing IVFE	Primary Set Secondary "piggyback" set	Standard Set Change Interval: Every 24 Hours
TPN (without IVFE)	Primary Set	No recommendation ¹ Replace no more often than every 96 hours. ²
Blood / Blood Products	Primary Set Filter	Replace within 24 hours of initiating the infusion. ¹ Replace administration set and filter every 4 hours. ²
Propofol	Primary Set	Replace tubing used to administer propofol infusions every 6 or 12 hours, when the vial is changed, per the manufacturer's recommendation. ¹ A dedicated administration set should be used and should be replaced every 12 hours when the vial is changed, and according to the manufacturer's directions for use. ²

¹ Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HICPAC)
² Recommendations from the Infusion Nurse Society's 2011 Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice

Regardless of infusate, change set immediately if contamination is suspected or product integrity is compromised. A sterile covering device should be used to cover the distal end of an administration set after intermittent use. Change needleless access devices at least as frequently as the administration set.