To solve this, we need to determine how many milliliters of the drug to administer based on the supplied concentration of Drug L.

Step 1: Convert the dose to the same unit

The prescribed dose is 0.8 mg, and the concentration of the drug is given in micrograms (mcg). Therefore, we need to convert milligrams (mg) to micrograms (mcg):

$0.8 \, \text{mg} = 0.8 \times 1000 \, \text{mcg} = 800 \, \text{mcg}$

Step 2: Set up the proportion

The drug is supplied as 900 mcg per 5 mL. We can set up the proportion to find the volume (x) to administer 800 mcg:

$\frac{900 \, \text{mcg}}{5 \, \text{mL}} = \frac{800 \, \text{mcg}}{x \, \text{mL}}$

Step 3: Solve for $x$

Now, cross-multiply to solve for $x$:

$900x = 800 \times 5$ $900x = 4000$ $x = \frac{4000}{900} \approx 4.44 \, \text{mL}$

Final Answer:

You should administer approximately 4.44 mL of Drug L using the 5 mL syringe.

Would you like further clarification on any step?

Here are 5 related questions to explore:

1. How would the calculation change if the concentration was 1000 mcg/5 mL?
2. What would be the volume required for a dose of 1 mg?
3. How do you convert mcg to mg and vice versa?
4. What are other common units of medication measurement?
5. How can you ensure accuracy in medication dosage calculations?

Tip: Always double-check units in medication calculations to avoid dosing errors.