Table 2. Composition of commonly used intravenous fluids.
| Plasma | 0.9% Sodium chloride | Plasma-Lyte 148a | Lactated Ringer’s | Albumin 5% | |
| Sodium (mmol/L) | 140 | 154 | 140 | 131 | 130-160 |
| Potassium (mmol/L) | 5 | — | 5 | 5.4 | ≤2 |
| Chloride (mmol/L) | 100 | 154 | 98 | 111 | —b |
| Calcium (mmol/L) | 2.2 | — | — | 2 | — |
| Magnesium (mmol/L) | 1 | — | 1.5 | 1 | — |
| Bicarbonate (mmol/L) | 24 | — | —b | ||
| Lactate (mmol/L) | 1 | — | — | 29 | — |
| Acetate (mmol/L) | — | — | 27 | — | — |
| Gluconate (mmol/L) | — | — | 23 | — | — |
| pH | 7.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 7.4 |
| [Na+]:[Cl-] ratio | 1.4:1 | 1:1 | 1.43:1 | 1.18:1 | — |
Note: BSA = body surface area.
a
Plasma-Lyte A has the same composition with the exception of a pH of 7.4.
b
Buffering salt differs according to manufacturer, but may include sodium bicarbonate or sodium chloride.