Bacteriostatic Water: 10mL

Bacteriostatic Water for Injection is sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a bacteriostatic preservative. It is the standard reconstitution solvent for lyophilized peptides and other research compounds in laboratory and pharmaceutical research applications. The benzyl alcohol concentration is bacteriostatic — meaning it inhibits bacterial growth — without being bactericidal, allowing repeated needle access to a single vial over an extended period without bacterial contamination of the contents. This makes Bacteriostatic Water particularly suited to multi-use vial protocols common in research applications.

It is sold for laboratory and analytical research only and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any therapeutic indication.

Composition

Each 10mL vial contains:

• Sterile Water for Injection, USP
• Benzyl Alcohol 0.9% (preservative)

The pH is approximately 5.5, slightly acidic, which is appropriate for the stability of most peptide compounds during reconstitution and short-term storage. The product is supplied in a sealed glass vial with a rubber stopper allowing repeated needle access without compromising sterility.

Why Bacteriostatic Water for Research Reconstitution

Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptides and research compounds are supplied in dry form for stability — most peptides degrade significantly faster in aqueous solution than in the lyophilized state. Reconstitution with an appropriate solvent is therefore a routine step in preparing these compounds for research use.

Several reconstitution solvents are available, each with specific use cases:

Bacteriostatic Water (0.9% benzyl alcohol): The standard choice for research applications using multi-dose vial protocols. The benzyl alcohol prevents bacterial contamination during repeated vial access while remaining compatible with the vast majority of peptide compounds.

Sterile Water for Injection (no preservative): Used for single-use applications or where benzyl alcohol may interfere with experimental conditions. Cannot be used for multi-dose protocols due to lack of bacteriostatic protection.

Sodium Chloride 0.9% (saline): Used for some peptide compounds and certain research applications. May affect peptide stability or solubility for some compounds.

Specialized buffers: Some peptide compounds require specific buffer conditions for stability (acetic acid solutions for some IGF compounds, specific pH buffers for others). Researchers should consult specific compound documentation for any specialized reconstitution requirements.

For the majority of research peptides supplied by Elara, Bacteriostatic Water is the recommended reconstitution solvent and provides 30+ days of working solution stability when properly stored.

Reconstitution Procedure

Standard reconstitution practice for lyophilized peptide compounds:

1. Remove plastic flip-off cap from both the peptide vial and Bacteriostatic Water vial. Wipe rubber stoppers with sterile alcohol pad.
2. Using a sterile syringe, withdraw the desired volume of Bacteriostatic Water (typical volumes range from 1mL to 5mL depending on peptide concentration desired).
3. Insert the needle through the rubber stopper of the peptide vial, tilting the vial slightly. Slowly inject the water along the inside glass wall of the vial — never directly onto the lyophilized powder, which can cause aggregation and reduce solubility.
4. Once water is added, gently swirl the vial (do not shake or vortex) until the lyophilized powder is fully dissolved. The solution should appear clear; cloudiness or visible particles may indicate degradation or contamination.
5. Label the reconstituted vial with the date of reconstitution and store at 2–8°C protected from light.
6. For subsequent withdrawals, wipe the rubber stopper with sterile alcohol pad before each needle access.

Sterility and Quality Specifications

Each batch of Bacteriostatic Water supplied by Elara meets the following specifications:

• Sterility: Sterile per USP standards
• Composition: Sterile Water for Injection USP with 0.9% Benzyl Alcohol preservative
• pH: Approximately 5.5 (slightly acidic, appropriate for peptide stability)
• Container: Sealed glass vial with rubber stopper allowing repeated needle access
• Volume: 10mL per vial

Storage and Stability

Sealed Bacteriostatic Water vials are stable at room temperature (15–30°C) until the labeled expiration date. After first needle access, the vial should be stored at 2–8°C and used within 30 days for optimal sterility maintenance, though the bacteriostatic preservative provides some additional protection.

Once a peptide is reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water, the working solution is generally stable for approximately 30 days at 2–8°C protected from light, though specific stability varies by peptide compound. Researchers should refer to specific compound documentation for stability information particular to the peptide being reconstituted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bacteriostatic Water?
Bacteriostatic Water for Injection is sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a bacteriostatic preservative. It is the standard reconstitution solvent for lyophilized peptides and research compounds, providing the ability to access a single vial multiple times without bacterial contamination of the contents.

Why is benzyl alcohol included?
The 0.9% benzyl alcohol concentration is bacteriostatic — it inhibits bacterial growth without killing bacteria outright. This allows multi-dose vial use over an extended period (typically up to 30 days after first access) without bacterial contamination accumulating in the vial. Without the preservative, repeated needle access would risk introducing bacteria that could grow in the aqueous solution.

Can I use regular sterile water instead?
Sterile Water for Injection (without preservative) can be used for single-use applications or experimental contexts where benzyl alcohol may interfere. However, regular sterile water cannot be used for multi-dose protocols — once the vial is opened, it should be used immediately or discarded due to contamination risk. For the multi-day protocols common in peptide research applications, Bacteriostatic Water is the appropriate choice.

Is Bacteriostatic Water compatible with all research peptides?
Bacteriostatic Water is compatible with the vast majority of research peptide compounds. A small number of compounds may have specialized reconstitution requirements (e.g., specific pH buffers, acetic acid solutions for certain IGF compounds, or other specialized solvents). Researchers should consult specific compound documentation for any specialized requirements; for most Elara research peptides, Bacteriostatic Water is the recommended reconstitution solvent.

How long does Bacteriostatic Water last after opening?
After first needle access, Bacteriostatic Water vials should be stored at 2–8°C and used within approximately 30 days for optimal sterility maintenance. Sealed vials are stable at room temperature until the labeled expiration date. Always wipe the rubber stopper with sterile alcohol pad before each needle access.

How do I reconstitute a lyophilized peptide?
Standard practice: remove flip-off caps from both vials, wipe rubber stoppers with sterile alcohol, withdraw desired volume of Bacteriostatic Water with sterile syringe, slowly inject water along the inside glass wall of the peptide vial (never directly onto the powder), gently swirl until dissolved, label with reconstitution date, and store at 2–8°C protected from light. Specific volumes depend on the desired concentration for the experimental application.

Why slowly along the wall instead of directly onto the powder?
Direct contact between solvent and lyophilized peptide powder can cause aggregation — the powder forms clumps that resist dissolution. Slow addition along the glass wall allows the water to gradually contact and hydrate the peptide, producing a clear, fully-dissolved solution without aggregates that would compromise research applications.

Should I shake or vortex to dissolve?
No. Vigorous mixing (shaking, vortexing) can mechanically denature peptides, particularly larger compounds with complex tertiary structure. Gentle swirling is sufficient to dissolve properly handled lyophilized peptides without compromising structural integrity.

What if my reconstituted solution looks cloudy?
A clear solution is expected for properly reconstituted peptides. Cloudiness or visible particles may indicate aggregation (which can occur from improper reconstitution technique), peptide degradation, or contamination. Cloudy solutions should not be used in research applications and the vial should be discarded.

Does Bacteriostatic Water need a COA?
Bacteriostatic Water is a defined chemical composition (water + 0.9% benzyl alcohol) with sterility specifications rather than a synthetic peptide requiring HPLC and mass spectrometry verification. Each batch meets sterility and composition specifications appropriate to its intended use as a reconstitution solvent.