Gentamicin Unit Converter

MedFinal Seamless Index

Gentamicin is a potent aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat severe infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Like all aminoglycosides, it has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the effective dosage range is close to the range that causes serious adverse effects.

Because of its toxicity profile, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is mandatory. Levels must be closely managed to ensure adequate efficacy (high peak concentration) while minimizing the risk of drug accumulation, which can lead to permanent damage such as nephrotoxicity (kidney damage) and ototoxicity (hearing damage). This converter allows seamless switching between the conventional mass unit (µg/mL) and the SI molar unit (µmol/L).

SI Units

Recommended

µmol/L

mmol/L

Micromoles per liter (Standard International).

Conventional Units

µg/mL

mg/L

pg/mL

ng/mL

µg/dL

Clinical Context

Therapeutic Peak (Efficacy): Typically 5 – 10 µg/mL. Levels should be drawn 30 minutes after drug infusion ends.

Toxic Trough (Safety): Trough levels (drawn just before the next dose) should typically be < 1.0 µg/mL. If the trough level is too high, the drug is accumulating and the risk of nephrotoxicity increases sharply. The conversion factor relies on MW 477.59 g/mol: 1 µmol/L ≈ 0.4776 µg/mL.

Clinical References

How to Use This Calculator

Follow these steps to get accurate clinical conversions instantly.

Enter Values

Input your trough or peak laboratory results into the corresponding unit field (e.g., µg/mL). You can use either dot or comma decimals.

Automatic Conversion

The calculator works in real-time. As you type in one field, all other units (like µmol/L and mg/L) are instantly updated.

Verify Units

Check the SI Units section. Note that µg/mL and mg/L are numerically identical (1:1).

Reset

Use the Clear button to reset all fields before starting a new calculation.

? Frequently Asked Questions & Tips

Is µg/mL the same as mg/L?

Yes. 1 µg/mL is exactly equal to 1 mg/L.

What are Peak and Trough?

Peak is the maximum concentration (related to efficacy); Trough is the minimum (related to toxicity). Both must be monitored in TDM.

Disclaimer: This calculator is provided for educational and reference purposes only. It is not intended for clinical diagnosis, treatment, or medical decision-making. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional and refer to your laboratory’s official reference ranges before interpretation.

Browse Medical Laboratory Calculators