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Gravity tubing is the common name for a gravity IV administration set: the single-use tubing that carries fluid from an IV bag or bottle to a peripheral venous cannula, with the fluid moving under gravity rather than through a pump. “Gravity IV tubing” means the same thing.
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who uses it: clinic and hospital supply staff, nurses and other clinicians who handle infusion supplies, buyers reading product listings, and students learning the parts of an infusion set.
What gravity tubing is
In the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s AccessGUDID database, a B. Braun listing for this class of product is named “IV Administration Set” and described as an “IV ADMINISTRATION SET WITH 15 DROPS/ML”. The record carries a GMDN term, “Basic intravenous administration set, noninvasive”, whose definition describes a collection of noninvasive devices intended to conduct fluids from an intravenous (IV) administration bag or bottle to a peripheral venous cannula (not included), and states that the device is single-use.
Two points follow from that wording. The cannula is a separate item and is not part of the set. And the same device class covers both gravity and pump administration, so “gravity” describes how a set is used and how the product is labeled, not a different kind of device.
What is on a gravity set
The two manufacturer listings below show what a gravity set listing does and does not state. They are examples of real listings, not a ranking or a recommendation.
| Attribute | B. Braun, item 490507 (AccessGUDID) | BD, SKU 41173E (“Grav Set 104”) |
|---|---|---|
| Drop factor | 15 drops/mL | 20 drops/mL |
| Approximate length | Not stated in the record | 104 in |
| Approximate priming volume | Not stated in the record | 17 mL |
| Y-site | Not stated in the record | 1 Y-site (SmartSite port) |
| Flow control | Not stated in the record | Roller clamp |
| Connector | Not stated in the record | 2-piece male luer lock |
| Filter, manifold, stopcock, T-connector | Not stated in the record | None |
| Sterility | Packaged sterile; no sterilization before use | Fluid path sterile |
| Natural rubber latex | Labeled “Not made with natural rubber latex” | Natural latex: No |
| Prescription | Yes | Not stated on the product page |
The drop factor is the number of drops that make up one milliliter. Because the two records above differ (15 versus 20 drops/mL), the figure on the specific set in hand is the one that counts. For how the drop factor is used, see the microdrip drop factor guide.
Gravity versus pump use
A gravity set relies on gravity for the fluid to move from the container to the patient line, and flow is adjusted at the set, for example with a roller clamp. An infusion pump moves the fluid mechanically. Per the GMDN wording above, one administration set definition spans both modes, so the labeling of the particular product is what tells you which it is intended for. For the pump side, see what an IV infusion pump is.
How it is built
The same GMDN definition says an administration set of this kind typically includes tubing, connectors, chambers and clamps. It also states that the term does not cover invasive devices or a heat exchanger. The definition does not name materials, so this page does not either. The BD listing shows how those generic parts appear on one real gravity set: a roller clamp, a SmartSite Y-site, and a 2-piece male luer lock connector.
Parts you may see on a set listing
- Roller clamp: the flow-control clamp on the tubing (listed on the BD record).
- Y-site: a side port on the tubing; the BD record lists one SmartSite port. See the Y-site guide.
- Luer lock connector: the end that connects to the cannula or other line; the BD record lists a 2-piece male luer lock.
- Container connection: the set draws from an IV bag or bottle. See what an IV bag is.
- Related sets: a related burette-type set is covered in the Buretrol guide.
Safe use and handling basics
- The set is single-use per its GMDN definition, and the B. Braun record states it is packaged sterile and needs no sterilization before use.
- Both records carry a latex statement. Read the one on the product in hand if latex is a concern in your setting.
- The B. Braun record marks the set as prescription (Rx) only.
- Replacement intervals for sets and related supplies are set by guidance and facility policy; the IV supplies guide carries the CDC intervals.
Common mistakes
- Treating “gravity” as a separate device class. The definition covers gravity or pump administration; check the product labeling.
- Assuming every set has the same drop factor. The two records above list 15 and 20 drops/mL.
- Assuming the set includes the cannula. The definition states the cannula is not included.
- Assuming a filter or extra ports. The BD record lists no filter, manifold, stopcock or T-connector; read the listing for what is actually included.
Frequently asked questions
What is gravity tubing?
It is a single-use IV administration set that conducts fluid from an IV bag or bottle to a peripheral venous cannula under gravity.
Is gravity IV tubing different from gravity tubing?
No. Both names refer to the same product: a gravity IV administration set.
Where can I find supplies in this category?
These sets are listed as IV administration sets; see infusion supplies at lac.us.
Sources
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, AccessGUDID, B. Braun item 490507 “IV Administration Set”: https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/04046955135790 (checked 2026-10-30).
- BD, gravity administration set SKU 41173E product page: https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/product-page.41173e (checked 2026-10-30).
