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Propofol (Diprivan)

Overview

Field Detail
Drug class Intravenous anaesthetic agent
Stock vial 200 mg/20 mL (10 mg/mL) or 500 mg/50 mL (10 mg/mL)
Reconstituted conc. N/A (Ready to use)
Storage Room temp; Do not freeze

Preparation

Emulsion Preparation

Propofol is a lipid emulsion. Ensure the vial is shaken gently before drawing up. Dilutions must be prepared freshly for each test.

Equipment needed

  • 1 × Propofol 10 mg/mL vial
  • Normal saline (NS) — for IDT dilutions
  • 1 mL syringes × 4 (for test doses/dilutions)
  • 25 G needles

Step 1 — Prepare the SPT solution (10 mg/mL — neat)

  1. Draw up 0.5–1 mL of the stock (10 mg/mL) into a 1 mL syringe.
  2. Label: "Propofol SPT 10 mg/mL".

Step 2 — Prepare IDT dilutions

Prepare in this order, using a fresh syringe for each step.

  1. IDT 1 mg/mL (1:10):

    • Draw 0.1 mL of stock (10 mg/mL) into a 1 mL syringe. Add 0.9 mL NS. Mix. (This is 1 mg/mL — 1:10).
    • Label: "Propofol IDT 1 mg/mL".

  2. IDT 0.1 mg/mL (1:100):

    • Draw 0.1 mL of the 1 mg/mL syringe into a new 1 mL syringe. Add 0.9 mL NS. Mix. (This is 0.1 mg/mL — 1:100).
    • Label: "Propofol IDT 0.1 mg/mL".

  3. IDT 0.01 mg/mL (1:1,000):

    • Draw 0.1 mL of the 0.1 mg/mL syringe into a new 1 mL syringe. Add 0.9 mL NS. Mix. (This is 0.01 mg/mL — 1:1,000).
    • Label: "Propofol IDT 0.01 mg/mL".

Skin prick test (SPT)

Reagent Concentration
Test solution Neat (10 mg/mL)
Positive control Histamine 10 mg/mL
Negative control Normal saline

Interpretation: Wheal ≥3 mm vs negative control = positive.

Intradermal test (IDT)

Dilution series

Step Dilution Concentration Preparation
1 1:1,000 0.01 mg/mL 0.1 mL of 0.1 mg/mL + 0.9 mL NS
2 1:100 0.1 mg/mL 0.1 mL of 1 mg/mL + 0.9 mL NS
3 1:10 1 mg/mL 0.1 mL neat + 0.9 mL NS

Inject: 0.05 mL intradermal. Read at 15–20 minutes.