[The filter effectiveness of common 15-micron filters (DIN 58362). II: Scanning electron microscopy and roentgen...

When i.v. solutions are used, millions of foreign particles are washed into the organism. Our town studies could recently show that these particles may interact with the organism and thus cause injury. A new method is introduced here (energy dispersive X-ray analysis in scanning electron microscopy, SEM, Jeol 35 CF/EDX, EEDS II Ortec), with which the element combination of foreign particles can be analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. As a first step an analysis of the particulate matter in filtrates of infusion solutions was carried out in the same way, materials used in infusion therapy (e.g. infusion sets, cannulas, etc.) were analyzed. The results show that most of the particulate matter consists of glass from ampoules, plastic materials from infusion sets and rubber from the rubber stoppers of infusion bottles.