Not All IVs Are Created Equal: Why Patient Safety Matters in IV Therapy

By Cheryl Lomax, Director of Precision Health

World Patient Safety Day is a reminder that patient safety must always come first, whether in hospitals, clinics, or private practices.

Despite the global IV therapy market being valued at $11.7 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $15 billion by 2030, adherence to safety protocols remains a significant concern. Studies indicate that nearly 60% of healthcare professionals have inadequate intravenous fluid administration practices, often due to factors like insufficient training and lack of supervision. The research suggests that less than half of providers consistently follow safety protocols.

Growth without governance puts patients at risk, and that must change.

In a hospital setting, IV therapy is routine. It’s a vital tool that preserves life, treats disease, and manages symptoms every day. Outside hospital walls, however, elective IV therapy is often seen as quick and low risk. The reality is different.

IV therapy carries real clinical risks and demands the same level of care and global safety framework as vaccines and medications: standardised protocols, internationally recognised training, and regulatory oversight that transcends borders.

An IV begins with the insertion of a cannula. Done well, it delivers hydration and nutrients directly into the bloodstream. Done poorly, it can cause bruising, infection, phlebitis, extravasation, or thrombus.

But the risk does not stop at insertion. A safe IV requires a full clinical assessment. Medical history, medications, lifestyle, vital signs, and BMI all influence whether an IV is appropriate. Skip this step, and the wrong treatment decision can follow.

Too often, poor outcomes stem from incomplete assessments and practitioners without adequate training. This is why not all IVs are created equal — and not all providers are either.

Across the industry, IV formulations vary in quality. At REVIV, every formulation is designed by our Life Science Team, considering dosage, volume, infusion rate, and compatibility. Every product undergoes laboratory testing to ensure sterility and safety.

But that level of oversight is not standardised across the wider industry. The IV you receive in one clinic could be very different from the IV you might receive elsewhere. For patients, this inconsistency translates into risk.

IV therapy is growing worldwide, but regulations have not kept pace. Some regions apply strict oversight. Others have almost none. The result is a patchwork of standards where patients may not know if their treatment has been screened, undergone rigorous testing, or delivered by trained professionals. This lack of consistency undermines safety and public trust.

Patient safety should never depend on geography. That is why REVIV actively works with professional bodies such as the American Intravenous Association (AIVA), while also building digital training platforms and global protocols that can be shared across the wider industry.

By contributing our expertise, we aim to close the safety gap between regions and establish a common baseline of standards worldwide.

At REVIV, quality is not an aspiration — it’s a system we have built to ensure every patient receives safe, effective IV therapy in any of our 100+ clinics worldwide.

Safety is embedded at every step, powered by our proprietary tools, IV MediScreen and IV Formulate. Together, they form the world’s first system that guarantees safe IV therapy anywhere, even where local regulations differ.

IV MediScreen instantly reviews a patient’s medical history, medications, and lifestyle factors, flagging risks before any IV is prepared. Each recommendation is reviewed by a licensed medical professional, adding an extra layer of oversight.

IV Formulate translates this data into personalised IV therapies, adjusting formulations to match individual health goals while maintaining strict clinical safety standards.

This system is complemented by:

• Standardised clinical protocols and SOPs, applied consistently across our global network. No new treatment is launched without its own protocol.
• Rigorous product controls, with all IVs sourced from licensed pharmacies and tested in laboratories for sterility and efficacy.
• Practitioner training and competence, through the first Global Training Academy in elective IV therapy, offering CPD and CME-accredited education, hands-on training, ongoing supervision, and extensive assessments before clinicians are authorised to treat patients.
• Our clinicians undergo extensive training and assessments before being authorised to deliver treatments. Monthly audits and clinical oversight ensure those standards are maintained.
• Our Life Science Team of doctors, nurses, and scientists continues to refine protocols and innovate based on the latest research.

Patients may never see the hours of preparation behind the scenes, but they feel the results in treatments that are delivered safely, confidently, and consistently.

For over a decade, REVIV has set the benchmark for safe elective IV therapy. Through proprietary tools and standardised training, we ensure every patient receives personalised, safe care across our global network of clinics.

Our mission goes beyond delivering safe IVs. We aim to redefine the global baseline of safety so that no patient, anywhere, is exposed to unnecessary risk. By sharing our training and technology, we raise standards across the industry, not just within our network. Our focus on evidence-based innovation, technology, and global collaboration drives our vision of universal patient safety.

At REVIV, safety doesn’t stop at our clinic doors. True leadership is not about keeping the standard to ourselves. It is about raising it for everyone.

As a CQC-registered provider in the UK, we uphold the highest standards of clinical governance and regulatory compliance, and we believe these principles should be universal.

On World Patient Safety Day, we call on regulators, providers, and professional bodies to follow suit: adopt consistent training, sterility, and clinical governance standards worldwide.

Patient safety should never depend on geography, variable training, or inconsistent product quality. Every patient deserves the same guarantee of care, everywhere.