MEASUREMENT

In science, measurement is the process of obtaining

the magnitude of a quantity, such as length or mass,
relative to a unit of measurement, such as a meter or
a kilogram
The word "measurement" is derived from the Greek
word "metron" which means a limited proportion.
Pharmacy technician to understand the system of measurement
and how to convert from one system to another in order to
reduced the risk of medication errors.

Dosage calculations are most concerned with measurement of

weight and volume.
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 METRIC SYSTEM
The metric system is an international decimalised
system of measurement.
first adopted by France in 1791
The decimal numeral system (also called base ten or
occasionally denary) has ten as its base
Decimal notation often refers to the base-10 positional notation
such as the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, however it can also
be used more generally to refer to non-positional systems such
as Roman or Chinese numerals which are still based on
powers of ten.
Since the 1960s the International System of Units ("Système
International d'Unités" in French, hence "SI") has been the
internationally recognised standard metric system
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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Countries by date of metrication. Green represents 1800,
yellow 1900, red 1980, and black identifies countries that have
not adopted the metric system.
Only three nations have not officially adopted the International System
of Units as their primary or sole system of measurement: Burma,
Liberia, and the United States.
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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MEASUREMENT - TOPICS

1. TIME
2. METRIC SYSTEM
3. MASS
4. LENGTH
5. VOLUME
6. TEMPERATURE CONVERSIONS
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 METRIC SEAL
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 1.TIME
Seasons
Months
Days of the Week
AM and PM times
Converting Minutes to Hours
Converting Hours to Minutes
Time Periods
Days in Months
Time Words to Numbers - Quarter Hours
Time Words to Numbers - Minutes
Convert weeks to days
Convert weeks and days to days
Add Days and Weeks
Subtract Days and Weeks
Convert hours to days and hours
Convert days to hours
Convert days and hours to hours
Add Days and hours

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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Subtract Days and hours
Convert hours to minutes
Add hours and minutes
Subtract hours and minutes
Convert minutes to seconds
Convert minutes and seconds to seconds
Add Minutes and seconds
Subtract Minutes and seconds
Convert days to weeks and days
Convert seconds to minutes and seconds
Time zones Continental United States
Time zones Canada
Time zones North America
Time zones Europe
Standard to Military Time
Military to Standard Time
Add hours
Add half hours

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 2. METRIC UNITS
The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of 10.

Prefix Symbol Factor Number Factor Word

Tera T 1,000,000,000,000 Trillion

Giga G 1,000,000,000 Billion
Mega M 1,000,000 Million
Kilo k 1,000 Thousand
Hecto h 100 Hundred
Deca da 10 Ten
Deci d 0.1 Tenth
Centi c 0.01 Hundredth
Milli m 0.001 Thousandth
Micro u 0.000001 Millionth
Nano n 0.000000001 Billionth
Pico K.SAMINATHAN.pM.pharm, M.B.A,(
0.000000000001
P.hD) Trillionth 8
 3. MASS
The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of 10.

A kilogram is 1000 grams

A hectogram is 100 grams
A decagram is 10 grams
A gram is the stem unit of mass
A decigram is 1/10 gram
A centigram is 1/100 gram
A milligram is 1/1000 gram

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 ADDING POUNDS AND OUNCES
How to add pounds and ounces
Add the ounces together.
If the number of ounces is greater than 16, divide the ounces by 16.
The quotient is the number of pounds that need to be added to the other
pounds.
The remainder is the number of extra ounces.
Add the original pounds plus the whole pounds resulting from the addition
of the ounces.

Example: Add 5 pounds 8 ounces plus 3 pounds 10 ounces

Add 8 ounces to 10 ounces:
8 + 10 = 18 ounces
The number of ounces is greater than 16 so divide by 16:
18 ÷ 16 = 1 pound 2 ounces
Add the pounds:
5 + 3 + 1 = 9 pounds
Answer: 9K.SAMINATHAN.
pounds 2 ounces
M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 4. LENGTH
The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of 10.

A kilometer is 1000 meters

A hectometer is 100 meters
A decameter is 10 meters
A meter is the basic unit of length
A decimeter is 1/10 meter
A centimeter is 1/100 meter
A millimeter is 1/1000 meter

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 ADDING FEET AND INCHES
How to add Feet and Inches
Add the inches together.
If the number of inches is greater than 12, divide the inches by 12.
The quotient is the number of feet that need to be added to the other
feet.
The remainder is the number of extra inches.
Add the original feet plus the whole feet resulting from the addition of
the inches.

Example: Add 5 feet 8 inches plus 3 feet 10 inches

Add 8 inches to 10 inches:
8 + 10 = 18 inches
The number of inches is greater than 12 so divide by 12:
18 ÷ 12 = 1 foot 6 inches
Add the Feet:
5 + 3 + 1 = 9 feet
Answer: 9K.SAMINATHAN.
feet 6 inches
M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 5. VOLUME
The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of 10.

A kiloliter is 1000 liters

A hectoliter is 100 liters
A decaliter is 10 liters
A liter is the basic unit of volume
A deciliter is 1/10 liter
A centiliter is 1/100 liter
A milliliter is 1/1000 liter

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 5. TEMPERATURE CONVERSION
-

CELSIUS TO FAHRENHEIT
Water freezes at 0o Celsius and boils at 100o Celsius which is a difference
of 100o. Water freezes at 32o Fahrenheit and boils at 212o Fahrenheit
which is a difference of 180o. Therefore each degree on the Celsius scale
is equal to 180/100 or 9/5 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale.

How to convert Celsius temperatures to Fahrenheit

Multiply the Celsius temperature by 9/5.

Add 32o to adjust for the offset in the Fahrenheit scale.
Example: convert 37o C to Fahrenheit.
37 * 9/5 = 333/5 = 66.6
66.6 + 32 = 98.6o F
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 FAHRENHEIT TO CELSIUS

Water freezes at 0o Celsius and boils at 100o Celsius which is a difference

of 100o. Water freezes at 32o Fahrenheit and boils at 212o Fahrenheit
which is a difference of 180o. Therefore each degree on the Fahrenheit
scale is equal to 100/180 or 5/9 degrees on the Celsius scale.

How to convert Fahrenheit temperatures to Celsius

Subtract 32o to adjust for the offset in the Fahrenheit

scale.
Multiply the result by 5/9.
Example: convert 98.6o Fahrenheit to Celsius.
98.6 - 32 = 66.6
66.6 * 5/9 = 333/9 = 37o C.

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 FOR UNDERSTANDING

1000 litres = 1 cubic metre ≈ 1 tonne of water

1 litre = 1 cubic decimetre ≈ 1 kilogramme of water

1 millilitre = 1 cubic centimetre ≈ 1 gramme of water

1 microlitre = 1 cubic millimetre ≈ 1 milligramme of water

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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A baby bottle that measures in three measurement
systems—imperial (U.K.), U.S. customary, and metric.
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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One of two standard kilogram masses kept by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology of the US government, that serves as the primary standard for all units
of mass in the United States. It is an exact copy, made in 1884, of the international
prototype kilogram kept at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures in Sevres,
France, that defines the unit of mass in the SI, the modern metric system. Forty such
secondary kilograms were made in 1884, and distributed to nations to serve as
national standards.
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 IMPERIAL SYSTEM

Imperial units or the imperial system is a system of

units, first defined in the British Weights and
Measures Act of 1824, later refined (until 1959) and
reduced.

The system came into official use across the British

Empire. By the late 20th century all nations of the
former empire had officially adopted the metric
system as their main system of measurement.

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 TABLE OF LENGTH EQUIVALENT UNITS

Unit Relative\
to previous Feet Millimetres Metres

thou 1⁄12000 0.0254 25.4 μm

inch 1000 thou 1⁄12 25.4

foot 12 inches 1 304.8 0.3048

yard 3 feet 3 914.4 0.9144

furlong 220 yards 660 201.168

mile 8 furlongs 5,280 1,609.344

league 3 miles 15,840 4,828.032

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 UNITED STATES CUSTOMARY UNITS

The United States customary system (also called

American system or, more rarely, "English units") is
the most commonly used system of measurement in
the United States. It is similar but not identical to the
British Imperial units.
The system for measuring length in the United States
customary system is based on the inch, foot, yard,
and mile

The cubic inch, cubic foot and cubic yard are

commonly used for measuring volume.

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 U.S. VOLUME UNITS

The common measures of volume in the U.S. system of

measurements are:

teaspoons
tablespoons = 3 teaspoons
fluid ounces = 2 tablespoons (6 teaspoons)
cups = 8 fluid ounces, 16 tablespoons
pints = 2 cups, 16 fluid ounces
quarts = 2 pints, 4 cups
gallons = 4 quarts, 8 pints, 16 cups
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 APOTHECARY SYSEM
The apothecary system is an old system of measurement. This
system is not widely Used today because it has been replaced by
the metric system.

Pharmacy technician must still be familiar with the apothecary

system.

Certain medication, especially older ones such as aspirin, morphine,

and nitroglycerine are still measured in apothecary units.

The basic unit of weight in the apothecary system is the grain (gr)

In the apothecary system, the symbol or a abbreviation comes first,

followed by the Quantity and roman numerals.

For example 18 grains would be either 18 grains of gr XVIII

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 APOTHECARY SYSEM

SOLID WEIGHT

60 grains = 1 dram

8 drams = 1 ounce

12 ounces = 1pound

LIQUID VOLUMES

60 minims = 1 fluidram

8 fluidrams = 1 fluid ounce

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 THE HOUSEHOLD SYSTEM
The house hold system is measurement is still commonly
used today.

It was developed so that patients could measure out dosages

at home using ordinary containers found in the kitchen.

Example: cups and spoons

Pharmacy technician should be familiar with the household

system of measurement so that they can explain take-home
prescription to their patients at the time of discharge.

There is no standardized system of notation for this system

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)

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 APOTHECARY SYSEM
drop
teaspoon
tablespoon
ounce (fluid)
ounce (weight)
cup
pint
quart
gallon
60 drop = 1 tea spoon
3 tea spoon = 1 table spoon
2 table spoon = 1 ounce
8 ounce = 1 cup
2 cup = 1 pint
2 pint = 1 qt
4 qt = 1 gal
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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 THE AVOIRDUPOIS SYSTEM
The avoirdupois system is the one used every day in he united
states for weight only, and it is used in commercial buying and
selling.

The basic unit of weight in this system is also the grain.

In the avoirdupois system, all units are multiples or fractions of the

pound, which is defined as 453 g.
16 drams = 1ounce

16 ounce = 1pound

25 pound = 1 quarter

4 quarter = 1 hundred weight

20 hundred weight =
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD) 1ton 27
 OTHER MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

There are some other measurements that

can be used for the quantity of medicine
order.

They include:

Unit (U)

Milliunits (mU)

International
K.SAMINATHAN.units (IU)
M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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Unit (U) is standardized amount requited to provide a desired
effect.

Example: insulin, heparin, and penicillin.

One thousand of unit (U) is a milliunit (mU)

Example: pitocine.

The international unit (IU) is a unit of potency. Cued

Example: vitamins and chemicals.

The milliequivalant (mEq) is one thousand of a comparable

substance whose chemical mass will combine with 1 gram of
hydrogen or 8 grams of oxygen.

Example: Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and 29

K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
K.SAMINATHAN. M.pharm, M.B.A,( P.hD)
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