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Xylocaine

Overview

Field Detail
Drug class Local anesthetic (lidocaine brand)
Route IV
Stock vial 50 mg/5 mL (10 mg/mL)
Reconstituted conc. N/A (Ready to use)
Diluent Nil
Storage Room temp; Do not freeze

Note

Xylocaine is a brand name for lidocaine/lignocaine. See also Lignocaine. This page reflects the Medication List data which includes a 4-step IDT series.

Preparation

Before you start

Check the expiry date and vial integrity before opening. Label every syringe immediately after drawing up — never leave unlabelled syringes on the tray. Ensure the vial contains Xylocaine 1% (10 mg/mL). Check if it contains adrenaline (epinephrine) — for allergy testing, plain Xylocaine is preferred.

Equipment needed

  • 1 × Xylocaine 10 mg/mL vial (Plain)
  • Normal saline (NS) — for IDT dilutions
  • 1 mL syringes × 5 (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: "Xylocaine SPT 10 mg/mL".

Step 2 — Prepare IDT dilutions

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

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

    • A: 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).
    • B: Draw 0.1 mL of A (1 mg/mL) into a new 1 mL syringe. Add 0.9 mL NS. Mix. (This is 0.1 mg/mL — 1:100).
    • C: Draw 0.1 mL of B (0.1 mg/mL) into a new 1 mL syringe. Add 0.9 mL NS. Mix. (This is 0.01 mg/mL — 1:1,000).
    • Label: "Xylocaine IDT 0.01 mg/mL".

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

    • Draw 0.1 mL of syringe B (0.1 mg/mL) into a new 1 mL syringe. (Already prepared in process above).
    • Label: "Xylocaine IDT 0.1 mg/mL".

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

    • Draw 0.1 mL of syringe A (1 mg/mL) into a new 1 mL syringe.
    • Label: "Xylocaine IDT 1 mg/mL".

  4. IDT 10 mg/mL (Neat):

    • Draw up a fresh 0.5 mL of stock (10 mg/mL) into a 1 mL syringe.
    • Label: "Xylocaine IDT 10 mg/mL — Neat".

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
4 Neat 10 mg/mL Undiluted stock

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