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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
IV3000 is Smith+Nephew’s moisture responsive transparent film dressing for intravenous (IV) catheters. Its instructions for use (IFU) describe it as a dressing “specifically designed to meet the needs of catheter fixation and IV site protection.” Clinic staff, nurses, supply buyers and students use it to read the IFU’s size-to-catheter-type table, understand what the film does and note the limits the manufacturer sets. Everything below comes from the Smith+Nephew IFU and product page (checked 2026-10-30; see Sources).
What IV3000 is
IV3000 is a sterile, single-use, transparent film dressing for securing a non-ported IV catheter and protecting the insertion site. The IFU states it is for healthcare professional use only. Medical-grade sterile securing strips and a documentation label are supplied with the dressings. See what an IV dressing is for the general category.
Who uses it: nurses and other clinicians who place and monitor peripheral, central and PICC lines, and the staff who stock them.
How it is built: REACTIC film, adhesive, strips and label
The dressing is made from Smith+Nephew’s REACTIC film. According to the manufacturer, the film is breathable with a high moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR), and it “switches to become more permeable in the presence of moisture.” The IFU also says the dressing is waterproof and provides a bacterial and viral barrier, and that while it remains intact it helps protect the IV site from outside contamination. The manufacturer’s reasoning is that a drier site reduces the risk of skin maceration and colonisation.
- Transparent construction: allows continual monitoring of the IV site (Smith+Nephew product page).
- Adhesive: described in the IFU as non-irritating and non-sensitising.
- Securing strips: supplied to help secure the catheter wings, hub, tubing or lumens. The IFU says they must not cover the insertion site and are not a replacement for sutures or other primary wound closure methods.
- Documentation label: can be written on with a ballpoint pen per local protocol and placed in the notes, on the skin or on the dressing without obscuring the insertion site.
Sizes and what each is indicated for
The IFU lists the sizes below, each with an indication. Product codes and availability are regional; this table follows the IFU’s own listing and is not a statement of what is sold in any particular country.
| Size | Indicated for (per IFU) | Ported version listed |
|---|---|---|
| 5 x 6 cm | Peripheral catheters | Yes |
| 6 x 7 cm (2 x 2.75 in) | Peripheral catheters | No |
| 7 x 9 cm | Peripheral catheters | Yes |
| 9 x 12 cm | Peripheral and central catheters | Yes |
| 10 x 12 cm | Central catheters | No |
| 11 x 14 cm | PICC (peripherally inserted central catheters) | Yes |
The IFU states that IV3000 is suitable for securing non-ported catheters. See what an IV catheter is for the catheter types the table refers to.
How to choose a size
The only selection criterion in the IFU is the indication column above: match the dressing size to the catheter type it lists (peripheral, central or PICC) and to whether the catheter is ported or non-ported. The IFU does not give any other sizing rule, so facility protocol and the catheter’s own instructions apply for everything else.
Safe use and handling basics
The IFU’s general points, summarised:
- Use on prepared, thoroughly dry skin only.
- Do not overlap or stack dressings. If more than one dressing is used, they should not overlap.
- Apply and remove carefully on sensitive or fragile skin. On removal, the IFU says to loosen the film and stretch it parallel to the skin while stabilising the skin and catheter.
- Check the dressing and site periodically for secure attachment and proper infusion, especially after bathing or showering or if the dressing is wet.
- If the dressing detaches, the IFU says to evaluate the catheter placement and then apply a new dressing.
- Discontinue use if reddening or sensitisation occurs.
- Single use only; do not re-use, because of cross-contamination risk.
- Duration: the IFU says the dressing “can be used for up to 7 days.” Dispose of it per local clinical protocol. Serious incidents should be reported to the manufacturer and the competent authority.
For the wider range of IV consumables, see our guide to IV supplies. The BioPatch antimicrobial disc is a different product with its own instructions.
Common mistakes the IFU warns against
- Applying the dressing to damp or unprepared skin.
- Placing the securing strips over the insertion site.
- Overlapping two dressings.
- Treating the securing strips or label as a substitute for sutures or other primary closure.
- Not rechecking the site after bathing or when the dressing gets wet.
- Re-using a dressing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IV3000 dressing?
It is Smith+Nephew’s moisture responsive transparent film dressing for catheter fixation and IV site protection, used on non-ported catheters according to its IFU.
How long can an IV3000 dressing stay on?
The IFU says the dressing can be used for up to 7 days, with the site monitored periodically. Follow your facility’s protocol for actual change intervals.
What does REACTIC film do?
Per Smith+Nephew, it is breathable and becomes more permeable when moisture is present, which is intended to limit moisture build-up around the catheter site while the dressing stays waterproof and a bacterial and viral barrier.
Which IV3000 size is indicated for a PICC line?
The IFU lists the 11 x 14 cm size for PICC lines.
Is IV3000 a substitute for sutures?
No. The IFU states the securing strips and label are not indicated as a replacement for sutures or other primary wound closure methods.
Related supplies
For related items, see infusion supplies; other pages in this cluster include what an IV start kit is.
Sources
- Smith+Nephew, IV3000 Moisture responsive catheter dressing, instructions for use (multi-language PDF, hosted by OneMed): https://res.onemed.com/DK/IU/940551.pdf. Date checked: 2026-10-30.
- Smith+Nephew, IV3000 product page (global): https://www.smith-nephew.com/en/health-care-professionals/products/advanced-wound-management/iv3000-global-only. Date checked: 2026-10-30.
