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Titus ThorneCurious if Bacteriostatic Water needs to be refrigerated?
Then you're in luck, because this guide has you covered.
Bacteriostatic water is the go-to solvent among qualified researchers for the safe injection of therapeutic solutions, such as peptides and hormones. It is made of sterile water and a bacteriostat agent that reduces the risk of contamination and extends its shelf life. Plus, it furnishes good solubility of many types of solutes without compromising on integrity or effectiveness.
This guide will provide all you need to know about bacteriostatic water, such as its benefits, uses, and precautions. Most importantly, we will break down how to properly store bacteriostatic water for optimal longevity, including the factors that influence refrigeration requirements.
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What is Bacteriostatic Water?
Bacteriostatic water is a pharmaceutical-grade sterile solvent intended for use in hypodermic injections. It has an overage pH of 5.7 and is composed of sterile water and 0.9% benzyl alcohol that acts as a preservative. The organically sourced bacteriostat agent halts bacterial growth to combat microbial contamination and significantly extends the shelf-life of bacteriostatic water and its derivates [1].
Bacteriostatic water’s primary application is as a diluent or solvent that is mixed with therapeutic substances for aqueous injection. Its resultant solutions are suited to parenteral injection via subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous injection routes [1, 2].
The foremost benefit of bacteriostatic water for injection is that a single vial can resist contamination for up to four weeks (28 days) without refrigeration after the withdrawal of the first dose. So, a single container of the solvent provides multiple doses when accessed with a sterile syringe.
Remember that the bacteriostat agent does not kill microbes but simply impedes their growth. So, sterile needles must be used to access bacteriostatic water to prevent contamination. Unsealed vials may remain viable for years with no refrigeration required [3, 4].
Refrigeration requirements are subject to change when it is mixed with other substances. This will be explained in detail below.
In addition to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and longevity, bacteriostatic water is the preferred solvent for many researchers due to its low toxicity and minimal interference with most solutes.
It is well-tolerated in most populations; however, it should not be used for injections in neonates and subjects with benzyl alcohol allergies. It may also interfere with certain medications. As such, handlers should adhere to all medical or manufacturer indications regarding safety and dosage [3, 4, 5].
What is Bacteriostatic Water Used For?
Bacteriostatic water for injection is mixed with substances that require aqueous suspension to be injected. Its preservative agent enables the sterile solvent and its reconstituted solutions to be safely stored and provide multiple doses with a reduced risk of contamination and infection. [4].
Its specific applications for injection are as follows [6]:
Solvent
Bacteriostatic water is mixed with non-liquid substances to dissolve them for aqueous injection. In this capacity, it is typically used to dissolve and reconstitute lyophilized powders.
Diluent
Bacteriostatic water may also be added to liquids to reduce their concentrations to the proper levels before injection.
Bacteriostatic water is easily available for over-the-counter purchase. In addition to medications, it is most often used in research contexts to inject the following therapeutic substances [7]:
Peptides
Closely studied for a range of potential therapeutic uses, peptides are usually sold in the form of lyophilized powders to prevent degradation. For reconstitution and injection, bacteriostatic water is the most recommended solvent, as it efficiently dissolves most peptides without compromising their integrity. It also allows peptide solutions to be stored and accessed for multiple doses [8, 9].
Hormones
Hormones are another class of bioactive compounds under study for therapeutic applications. Commonly injected hormones such as HGH are often available in lyophilized powder form and require reconstitution before injection. Bacteriostatic water is highly recommended for this purpose. Its longer shelf life is particularly beneficial for researchers who follow rigorous hormone injection schedules, as it eliminates the need to remix solutions with every dose [10, 11, 12, 13].
Solutions made with bacteriostatic water are indicated for various types of injection routes, determined by the type of solute, the health of the recipient, and the optimal diffusion rate. The full range of parenteral injection routes includes [1]:
- Intramuscular injection
- Subcutaneous injection
- Intravenous injection
- Intradermal injection
Bacteriostatic water is contraindicated for intrathecal injections due to possible neurotoxic effects [14].
There are a few additional precautions to be aware of. Handlers should never inject bacteriostatic water without a mixed-in solute. Injection of unmixed bacteriostatic water is known to cause hemolysis, the rapid breakdown of red blood cells. Adverse reactions are uncommon and can include injection site infection, abscess formation, blood clots, and fever. If these symptoms appear, cease injections and seek medical attention [15, 16].
Does Bacteriostatic Water Need to Be Refrigerated?
Unmixed bacteriostatic water does not require refrigeration due to its preservative content of 0.9% benzyl alcohol. While unopened vials remain good for several years in proper storage, unsealed vials remain sterile for approximately 28 days after the first dose is withdrawn. Remember, these conditions apply only to vials that have been accessed with sterile needles. If you suspect contamination, discard the vial.
Both sealed and unsealed vials of pure bacteriostatic water should be stored as follows [3, [4]:
- Keep vials at room temperature (60-80°F). Refrigeration is not recommended.
- Store vials in a dark area that is out of direct sunlight to prevent degradation. A cabinet is ideal.
Be sure to avoid placing other items on top of bacteriostatic water containers. The added weight could damage the vials and compromise the solution.
Proper storage requirements change when bacteriostatic water is used to dilute or reconstitute other substances. Let’s take a look at the recommended storage requirements of two popular solvent types:
Peptides
Storage indications vary due to peptide stability. However, most peptides that are correctly reconstituted with bacteriostatic water can be refrigerated at 39°F to remain usable for up to 30 days. Before reconstitution, most lyophilized peptides can be stored at room temperature for several weeks. For longer periods, it is recommended to keep them in the freezer [17].
Hormones
The storage guidelines for different hormones vary. Let’s look at some common ones:
- HGH (Human Growth Hormone) solutions with bacteriostatic water usually require refrigeration (36°F-46°F) to remain viable for about four weeks. Before reconstitution, HGH lyophilized powder can be kept at room temperature in a dark area. Do not freeze [18].
- HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) solutions with bacteriostatic water should be refrigerated. If refrigerated, they are good for up to 60 days. Unmixed powders are to be stored at room temperature (68-77°F) [19].
Exact time frames and storage requirements are subject to variation, so handlers should always consult product labels.
In summation, pure bacteriostatic water does not require refrigeration to remain sterile for an impressive 28 days, and, if unopened, for much longer. When mixed with popular solutes such as peptides and hormones, bacteriostatic water solutions can be refrigerated and safely accessed for extended periods.
In contrast to other sterile solvents that are often used in injections, such as sterile water, bacteriostatic water extends the shelf life of its solutions. Meanwhile, those made with sterile water must be immediately discarded if not used.
Benefits of Bacteriostatic Water
Bacteriostatic water is the first choice in solvents for qualified researchers due to its many benefits. These great features include the following:
- Its organically derived preservative agent (0.9% benzyl alcohol) impedes microbial contamination for 28 days to reduce the risk of infection and extend the shelf life of solutions.
- Bacteriostatic water vials and solutions can be used to withdraw multiple doses, eliminating the need to remix solutions for every injection. This saves both time and money.
- Unmixed bacteriostatic water is easy to store for long periods and does not need to be refrigerated.
- It efficiently dissolves most common solutes to allow safe and smooth injections.
- Bacteriostatic water can be safely used in various types of injections, including intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous routes.
- It does not diminish the potency, integrity, or effectiveness of most solutes.
- It can adapt to various injection factors, such as the ideal rates of metabolization and diffusion, the subject’s health, and the type of solute administered.
- Bacteriostatic water is widely available for purchase from trusted sources that manufacture the product according to USP (US Pharmacopeia) standards.
- Some researchers use it as a cleaning fluid for lab tools.
- Bacteriostatic water is the ideal solvent for substances formulated for aqueous injection.
The benefits of bacteriostatic water are not limited to this list. It is a great addition to any researcher’s toolkit due to its safety, efficacy, and convenience.
Read on to learn how you can enjoy these many benefits when purchasing bacteriostatic water from a top online source.
Where to Buy Bacteriostatic Water Online | 2023 Guide
When using bacteriostatic water, researchers must prioritize safety and cleanliness protocols. The most important guideline is to keep all tools sterile to prevent contamination of the solvent.
Items required for safely reconstituting and performing injections include sterile syringes and needles, sterile mixing vials, and alcohol swabs to disinfect all surfaces. Trying to source all of these items from a single retailer may be arduous.
Don’t let this worry hold you back from enhancing your research with bacteriostatic water!
The experts at Peptides.org have surveyed the web to find the best source for bacteriostatic water and all complementary supplies:
This trusted site offers top-quality bacteriostatic water in addition to convenient and comprehensive research kits for proper use. Each kit has all the required supplies, saving you the time, energy, and headache of assembling the items yourself.
Let’s check out the specifics of this vendor’s catalog. There are two available research kits for sale.
The starter research kit has the following items:
- 3 Vials of Bacteriostatic Water (30mL)
- 200 Alcohol Prep Pads
- 1 Sterile Empty Glass Vial (10mL)
- 100 Insulin Syringes (0.5 cc/mL x 29g x ½)
- 10 Large Needles + Syringes Combo (3cc x 21g x 1)
If you need more supplies, you will love the premium research kit, which includes:
- 5 vials of Bacteriostatic Water (30mL)
- 200 Alcohol Prep Pads
- 2 Sterile Empty Glass Vials (10mL)
- 200 Insulin Syringes (0.5 cc/mL x 29g x ½)
- 20 Large Needles + Syringes Combo (3cc x 21g x 1)
What more could you need?
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Does Bacteriostatic Water Need to Be Refrigerated? | Overall
Bacteriostatic water alone can be conveniently stored in a cabinet and does not require refrigeration. This is due to its preservative content, which also extends the shelf life of its resultant solutions that typically require refrigeration. It is a great choice of pure solvents for safe injections.
Researchers are sure to enjoy the many benefits of bacteriostatic water with the purchase of a deluxe toolkit from BacteriostaticWater.org, the best single online source for this solvent.