A circuitry (60) for counting drips and monitoring a rate of infusion is incorporated into an IV administration set (10). The circuitry includes a pair of leads (40,42) that are positioned in the pathway of fluid droplets (18), such that each droplet simultaneously contacts both leads. As such, the leads act as a virtual switch that is closed by the presence of a droplet. This event is then displayed on a drip signaling device (80) to aid a user in adjusting the infusion rate of the IV administration set.
