What is the purpose of maintaining a saline lock when an IV is not continuously infusing?

• A. To apply topical saline.
• B. To keep the catheter patent and allow intermittent medication administration.
• C. To flush the line to remove blood.
• D. To maintain infusion rate.

Answer: (B)

Maintaining a saline lock is about keeping the IV catheter open and ready for use when there isn’t a continuous infusion. After an infusion ends, the line is capped with saline so the lumen doesn’t clot off. This setup lets you access the same line later to give intermittent medications or draw blood without having to start a new IV.

Topical saline isn’t what this is about, and the goal isn’t to remove blood or to keep a continuous infusion going. Instead, the lock preserves patency, making intermittent access quick and safe.