Hydrogen-ion potential of dobutamine hydrochloride solutions exposed to environmental conditions of neonatal intensive care units.

Objective: To verify the hydrogen-ion potential (pH) of dobutamine hydrochloride solutions under environmental conditions similar to those of neonatal intensive care units.

Methods: We analyzed the pH of the drug diluted in 5% dextrose in water or 0.9% NaCl under different conditions of temperature (22 and 37 degrees C) and light (dark, fluorescent light bulbs, and phototherapy equipment), using colorless and amber intravenous sets at time intervals of 0, 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours.