Overview
Bacteriostatic water is sterile water for injection containing approximately 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a bacteriostatic preservative. The benzyl alcohol suppresses microbial growth, which allows a reconstituted vial to be drawn from across multiple sampling events during a study, unlike single-use sterile water. It is a diluent reagent, not an active compound.
Mechanism as studied
Benzyl alcohol acts as a bacteriostatic agent by disrupting microbial membrane integrity at the preservative concentration used, limiting proliferation in a multi-sample vial. The water itself serves as the solvent that returns a lyophilized peptide to solution at a defined concentration.
Research context
Contexts in which this compound appears in the in-vitro and preclinical research literature:
- Standard diluent for reconstituting lyophilized peptides and small-molecule reagents in the laboratory.
- Preferred over plain sterile water when a reconstituted vial will be sampled repeatedly over a study window.
- Benzyl-alcohol content is a consideration for assays sensitive to the preservative; unpreserved sterile water is used where a preservative would interfere.
Handling & storage
Add the required volume to the lyophilized vial slowly down the wall, letting the powder dissolve without agitation. Choose the diluent volume to set the working concentration (for example, 2 mL into a 10 mg vial yields 5 mg/mL). Wipe the stopper with alcohol before each draw and keep the vial capped.
Store at controlled room temperature away from light. Once a reconstituted peptide vial is prepared with it, follow the storage window for that peptide (typically refrigerated at 2–8 °C).
Certificates of analysis
A certificate of analysis for the current lot is in preparation and will be published in the certificate library. Lot documentation is available on request for this compound.
Order Bacteriostatic Water
Lot-traceable, certificate-backed, and shipped cold-chain from the US. Available in 3 mL, 10 mL, 30 mL.
For research use only
This guide is reference material for qualified researchers. The compound is an analytical-grade reference material supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and development — not a drug, supplement, or medical device, and not for human or animal consumption or any therapeutic, clinical, or diagnostic use. No medical claims are made or implied.
