Warning Avoid Using the Abbreviation IVFE

IVFE, an abbreviation for IV fat emulsion, has been confused with IV iron (IVFe) thus creating the potential for medication errors. IV fat emulsion (IVFE) in its documents, as it was the term the FDA used to describe oil-in-water emulsions for intravenous administration. The FDA has changed the terminology from IV fat emulsion to the US Pharmacopeia term, lipid injectable emulsion. As an effort to influence clinical practice and decrease the risk for medication errors, ASPEN will no longer use IV fat emulsion and its abbreviation, IVFE in its Board of Directors approved documents. IV fat emulsion has been replaced by lipid injectable emulsion and will be abbreviated ILE. Clinicians are encouraged to improve patient safety by adopting this practice and avoid using the abbreviation IVFE.

Reference February 1, 2017 ASPEN Clinical Practice Highlights