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Bacteriostatic Water Vs. Sterile Water
Bacteriostatic water and sterile water are essentially used to dissolve drugs/medications for injection purposes.
Bacteriostatic water is used to dilute or dissolve medications intended for aqueous injection. Its preservative agent (0.9% benzyl alcohol) prevents the growth of bacteria and therefore, extends the shelf life for up to 28 days and enables the withdrawal of multiple doses from a single vial without contamination (5).
On the other hand, a sterile water vial doesn’t contain any preservatives/additives which can keep it free of pathogens for a longer time, thus one will have to use it immediately after opening the seal.
So, if you are someone who has seen the vials of both types of water, I am sure you can now understand why a bacteriostatic water vial contains considerable volume while a sterile water vial contains just a few milliliters.
Despite the favorable safety profile of bacteriostatic water, clinicians caution against its use in pregnant women, neonates, and certain medications. It is also unsafe for injection without a solvent and is contraindicated for intrathecal injections (5).
Where to Buy Syringes and Bacteriostatic Water?
We use 30 gauge 5/16th of an inch (8mm) for our subcutaneous injections, but we recently found a source that sells:
ALL IN ONE BOX! That’s right, no more shopping around. Just order it all from them, and save some money while you’re at it.
Introducing…..
Peptide Research Injection KitIntroducing the all-inclusive Concierge Research Injection Kit, designed to streamline the research process by providing everything needed for reconstitution, storage, and administration of substances in a single package. Simplify the workflow and eliminate the hassle of sourcing materials from multiple vendors.
This comprehensive kit includes:
– Bacteriostatic Water (30mL): Ideal for diluting and reconstituting substances while maintaining a sterile, bacteria-free environment.
– Insulin Syringes (0.5 cc/mL x 29g x ½): Precision-engineered syringes for accurate administration, featuring fine gauge needles and a 0.5 cc/mL capacity.
– Alcohol Prep Pads: Ensure cleanliness and minimize contamination with these pre-moistened pads for sterilizing injection sites and vials.
– Sterile Empty Glass Vial (10mL): A contamination-free container for safely storing reconstituted substances.
– Large Needles + Syringes Combo (3cc x 21g x 1): Versatile, larger-capacity syringes with thicker gauge needles for injecting Bac water into the peptide vial.
With this Concierge Research Injection Kit, researchers can focus on obtaining results and analyzing data more efficiently. Say goodbye to wasted time and effort in sourcing research materials and embrace a seamless research experience.
Peptide Dosage
While there is no fixed dosage of peptides and each peptide accounts for a different dose.
Recommended dosages are usually based on either clinical trials or users’ experience. Therefore, if you decided to use any peptide for personal purposes, it is crucial to consult with your doctor/healthcare provider first.
For example, the recommended dosage of BPC-157 is 1mcg to 10mcg per kg of body weight which accounts for 200mcg to 1000mcg per injection. But note that BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA for human use.
On the other hand, TB-500, another potential peptide for quick healing is usually dosed at 7.66mg per week. However, as BPC-157, TB-500 is not approved by the FDA for human use.
So it all differs and the exact dosage can only be prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Peptide Dosage Chart
We spent 20 hours of research finding optimal recommended dosages for every popular peptide. Check a preview below or click on the image to see the full document. Please note that all the presented doses here are based on clinical trials/preclinical studies. So, before using any peptide for personal purposes, consult with your healthcare provider.
Peptide Storage
Peptides should be stored in a dry, cool, dark place. For best preservation, store at 4°C or colder away from bright light. Dry peptides are stable at room temperature for days to weeks but for long-term storage -20°C is to be preferred (6).
Contamination with moisture will greatly decrease the long-term stability of solid peptides. A vial containing a peptide should be allowed to warm to room temperature before being opened. After removing the desired quantity, the vial should be re-sealed, preferably under an atmosphere of dry inert gas, and then returned to cold storage (6). An ideal container for peptide manipulation should be clean, chemically inert, optically clear, strong, and available in an appropriate size.
Glass and plastic vials are generally satisfactory for the purpose, however, care does need to be taken with plastic vials when organic solvents are to be used (6). Polypropylene vials are both strong and chemically inert but if high visibility is required glass is a better option. Please appreciate that peptide in solution can and do adsorb to many materials. This may occur to varying extents being dependent upon factors such as constituent amino acids, vial material, and peptide concentration.
At high dilution, it is possible to lose large percentages of peptide due to adsorption to surfaces thereby grossly distorting subsequent results. The use of high-quality specialist glass and polypropylene vials can lessen this problem (6). The shelf life of peptide solutions is limited especially for peptides containing C, M, N, Q, and W. To prolong the storage life of peptides in solution, sterile buffers with a pH of around 5-6 should be used. Aliquots should be stored at -20°C or colder wherever possible.
Avoid the use of frost-free freezers, which vary enormously in temperature during the frequent automatic defrosting cycles. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are deleterious to peptides (6).
How Do I Mix Peptides?
Now here comes the crux of the article after talking about some of the major prerequisites of the peptide reconstitution process.
Before really going straight into the topic, let’s first understand the need for the phrase “reconstituting peptides”. Most peptides that you will see are often sold as lyophilized peptides which means that (freeze-dried) powder form.
Before really using the peptide, you will have to add liquid to the powder and MIX it well to make it a solution but it isn’t as simple as it sounds!
So, you will need alcohol swabs, a syringe (27-29 gauge insulin needles), the lyophilized peptide that you have ordered, and the bacteriostatic water or sterile water, depending on your preference. (I would personally recommend bacteriostatic water because of its longer shelf-life).
The first step is to use the alcohol swab and wipe the vials containing lyophilized peptides and the bacteriostatic/sterile water. Give half a minute for the alcohol to dry so that there is no risk of bacterial growth.
The second step is to use your syringe and draw out 1ml of bacteriostatic water from the vial without really touching the needle as it could cause contamination. For those of you thinking about the volume of water, 1ml is usually enough for all the peptides available in the market.
Video by: Chase Irons
The next and immediate step is to add the water you have drawn out into the peptide vial slowly yet smoothly. Don’t just shoot the water like a spray or something. What you should be doing is drip the water onto the inner surface of the vial so that there is enough time for the lyophilized peptide and water to mix.
Note that you should not stir or shake the vial as it is going to damage the peptide and it will no longer be effective.
You will soon see that your peptide powder will be dissolved and the vial will be transparent.
Done, your reconstitution is done!
I am sure that most of the things would be clear by now. Because visual guidance is a far better approach, I searched for some YouTube videos that could help you in the process. The video I would recommend is embedded below.
Now that you know the general peptide reconstitution guidelines, let’s talk about some of the exceptions.
While most of the peptides will be in bacteriostatic water and sterile water, some really won’t, and this will be depending on the polarity of the peptides.
To know the best solvent in which a peptide will be soluble, you must have to consider some biochemistry knowledge and do some trial and error.
Acidic peptides will be best soluble in basic solution and vice versa. Researchers also use organic solvents such as Acetic acid and DMSO to dissolve hydrophobic peptides and polar uncharged amino acids.
Note that sodium chloride water shouldn’t be used as it may result in precipitates.
Once the peptide is made soluble in any of the relevant solutions, diluting it with bacteriostatic water or sterile water is recommended.
What is Peptide Mixing Water used for?
As discussed earlier, peptide mixing water is used to dissolve/dilute the lyophilized peptides.
Because most peptides are sold in powder form, one needs to dissolve/dilute them before really using them.
Can you reconstitute peptides with distilled water?
Yes, distilled water can also be used to reconstitute peptides alongside bacteriostatic and sterile water.
But not all peptides dissolve in water easily, so it usually is recommended that you try to dissolve the peptide in any of these waters using Sonication. This process is often helpful in breaking down the big solid lumps of peptides in the water and aids in the dissolution process.
If the peptide still doesn’t get dissolved, perform trial and error and use various other solvents.
How much bacteriostatic water do you mix with peptides?
The universal rule is to use 1 milliliter of bacteriostatic water for every peptide that you reconstitute.
You can go as high as 2 milliliters per peptide reconstitution as it does not harm other than more dilution.
How to Store Reconstituted Peptides
Reconstituted peptides can be stored in several ways, depending on the duration of storage and the desired shelf life. Here are some general guidelines for storing reconstituted peptides:
Short-term storage: If you plan to use the reconstituted peptide within a few days, you can store it at 4°C in the dark. It is essential to avoid exposure to light and high temperatures, which can lead to peptide degradation.
Long-term storage: For long-term storage, it is recommended to aliquot the reconstituted peptide into small volumes and freeze them at -20°C or -80°C. This method can preserve the peptide’s stability and activity for several months to years, depending on the peptide’s properties and storage conditions.
Freeze-drying: Freeze-drying, also known as lyophilization, is a method that removes water from the peptide solution and allows the peptide to be stored in a stable, dry form at room temperature for an extended period. However, this method requires special equipment and expertise.
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles: It is essential to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, as they can cause damage to the peptide and decrease its stability and activity.
In summary, the best way to store reconstituted peptides depends on the duration of storage and the desired shelf life. Short-term storage can be done at 4°C, while long-term storage can be done by freezing at -20°C or -80°C, or by lyophilization. It is essential to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and exposure to light and high temperatures.
How do you reconstitute BPC 157 5mg?
Okay, so this is some math stuff that I need to explain to you before it gets on your nerves.
If you don’t know what BPC 157 is, it is a peptide that is used by athletes and bodybuilders to recover from injuries and aid in the healing process. Read the full review on BPC 157 only at Muscle and Brawn.
The recommended dosage of BPC 157 is somewhere between 200mcg to 1000mcg, depending on your body weight. Let’s just assume that you have been prescribed 500mcg of BPC 157.
For the 5mg vial of BPC 157, you will have to use 1 ml of bacteriostatic water.
One vial of BPC 157 contains 5mg, which also means 5000mcg.
Because there is 1ml of bacteriostatic water, this means that we need to mix 5000mcg with 1ml of bacteriostatic water.
As the recommended dosage is 500mcg, dividing the total of 5000mcg by 500mcg will yield 10 injections per BPC 157 vial.
To reconstitute 10 equal dosages, we need to mix 1 ml of bacteriostatic water in all 10 injections, which means 0.1 ml of water per dosage.
Using the 28-29 gauge insulin syringe, you will have to draw 0.1 ml of water per injection. On the insulin syringe, 100 units correspond to 1 ml, so 10 units will correspond to 0.1 ml of bacteriostatic water.
In a nutshell, to make the 1 proper dosage of BPC-157, you would need to draw 10 units of water and then mix it by following the reconstitution guidelines.
How to mix peptides in the same syringe?
Well, people have been mixing peptides in the same syringe and then administering them.
Only if the peptides are of the same nature such as growth hormone (GH) influencers or if you see any vendors selling a stack of particular peptides, only those you should mix.
The process is simple. All you have to do is add the desirable reconstituted peptides in 1 vial and then use the syringe to pull out the mixture so that you can administer it.
How do you store sterile water for injections?
As I mentioned at the start, the sterile water vial doesn’t contain benzyl alcohol which makes it unfavorable for storage.
Once you open the seal of the sterile water vial, you will either have to use it preferably within the next 4 hours, or discard it. There is no other option.
Is distilled water the same as sterile water?
Distilled water is a form of sterile water but sterile water is not always distilled!
Ok, let me shatter the confusion!
Sterile water is free of any organic materials but contains inorganic materials to some extent. On the other hand, distilled water is rather more sterilized and contains neither organic nor organic materials.
Can you inject bacteriostatic water?
No, you can’t just inject bacteriostatic water alone!
The benzyl alcohol in it would cause red blood cell lysis. Perhaps other adverse effects include fever, abscess formation, thrombosis, tissue death, and infection.
How long does bacteriostatic saline last?
If kept under appropriate conditions, bacteriostatic saline can last up to 28 days.
Why is there a shortage of sterile water?
While there is not a long-term shortage, an acute shortage is often seen because of either manufacturing facilities malfunction’ or some medical emergency such as COVID-19.
Click here to view the article.
Bacteriostatic water and sterile water are essentially used to dissolve drugs/medications for injection purposes.
Bacteriostatic water is used to dilute or dissolve medications intended for aqueous injection. Its preservative agent (0.9% benzyl alcohol) prevents the growth of bacteria and therefore, extends the shelf life for up to 28 days and enables the withdrawal of multiple doses from a single vial without contamination (5).
On the other hand, a sterile water vial doesn’t contain any preservatives/additives which can keep it free of pathogens for a longer time, thus one will have to use it immediately after opening the seal.
So, if you are someone who has seen the vials of both types of water, I am sure you can now understand why a bacteriostatic water vial contains considerable volume while a sterile water vial contains just a few milliliters.
Despite the favorable safety profile of bacteriostatic water, clinicians caution against its use in pregnant women, neonates, and certain medications. It is also unsafe for injection without a solvent and is contraindicated for intrathecal injections (5).
Where to Buy Syringes and Bacteriostatic Water?
We use 30 gauge 5/16th of an inch (8mm) for our subcutaneous injections, but we recently found a source that sells:
- Injection syringes
- Bacteriostatic Water
- Drawing syringes (To draw the water and insert them into the aliquots)
- Alcohol wipes
ALL IN ONE BOX! That’s right, no more shopping around. Just order it all from them, and save some money while you’re at it.
Introducing…..
Peptide Research Injection KitIntroducing the all-inclusive Concierge Research Injection Kit, designed to streamline the research process by providing everything needed for reconstitution, storage, and administration of substances in a single package. Simplify the workflow and eliminate the hassle of sourcing materials from multiple vendors.
This comprehensive kit includes:
– Bacteriostatic Water (30mL): Ideal for diluting and reconstituting substances while maintaining a sterile, bacteria-free environment.
– Insulin Syringes (0.5 cc/mL x 29g x ½): Precision-engineered syringes for accurate administration, featuring fine gauge needles and a 0.5 cc/mL capacity.
– Alcohol Prep Pads: Ensure cleanliness and minimize contamination with these pre-moistened pads for sterilizing injection sites and vials.
– Sterile Empty Glass Vial (10mL): A contamination-free container for safely storing reconstituted substances.
– Large Needles + Syringes Combo (3cc x 21g x 1): Versatile, larger-capacity syringes with thicker gauge needles for injecting Bac water into the peptide vial.
With this Concierge Research Injection Kit, researchers can focus on obtaining results and analyzing data more efficiently. Say goodbye to wasted time and effort in sourcing research materials and embrace a seamless research experience.
Peptide Dosage
While there is no fixed dosage of peptides and each peptide accounts for a different dose.
Recommended dosages are usually based on either clinical trials or users’ experience. Therefore, if you decided to use any peptide for personal purposes, it is crucial to consult with your doctor/healthcare provider first.
For example, the recommended dosage of BPC-157 is 1mcg to 10mcg per kg of body weight which accounts for 200mcg to 1000mcg per injection. But note that BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA for human use.
On the other hand, TB-500, another potential peptide for quick healing is usually dosed at 7.66mg per week. However, as BPC-157, TB-500 is not approved by the FDA for human use.
So it all differs and the exact dosage can only be prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Peptide Dosage Chart
We spent 20 hours of research finding optimal recommended dosages for every popular peptide. Check a preview below or click on the image to see the full document. Please note that all the presented doses here are based on clinical trials/preclinical studies. So, before using any peptide for personal purposes, consult with your healthcare provider.
Peptide Storage
Peptides should be stored in a dry, cool, dark place. For best preservation, store at 4°C or colder away from bright light. Dry peptides are stable at room temperature for days to weeks but for long-term storage -20°C is to be preferred (6).
Contamination with moisture will greatly decrease the long-term stability of solid peptides. A vial containing a peptide should be allowed to warm to room temperature before being opened. After removing the desired quantity, the vial should be re-sealed, preferably under an atmosphere of dry inert gas, and then returned to cold storage (6). An ideal container for peptide manipulation should be clean, chemically inert, optically clear, strong, and available in an appropriate size.
Glass and plastic vials are generally satisfactory for the purpose, however, care does need to be taken with plastic vials when organic solvents are to be used (6). Polypropylene vials are both strong and chemically inert but if high visibility is required glass is a better option. Please appreciate that peptide in solution can and do adsorb to many materials. This may occur to varying extents being dependent upon factors such as constituent amino acids, vial material, and peptide concentration.
At high dilution, it is possible to lose large percentages of peptide due to adsorption to surfaces thereby grossly distorting subsequent results. The use of high-quality specialist glass and polypropylene vials can lessen this problem (6). The shelf life of peptide solutions is limited especially for peptides containing C, M, N, Q, and W. To prolong the storage life of peptides in solution, sterile buffers with a pH of around 5-6 should be used. Aliquots should be stored at -20°C or colder wherever possible.
Avoid the use of frost-free freezers, which vary enormously in temperature during the frequent automatic defrosting cycles. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are deleterious to peptides (6).
How Do I Mix Peptides?
Now here comes the crux of the article after talking about some of the major prerequisites of the peptide reconstitution process.
Before really going straight into the topic, let’s first understand the need for the phrase “reconstituting peptides”. Most peptides that you will see are often sold as lyophilized peptides which means that (freeze-dried) powder form.
Before really using the peptide, you will have to add liquid to the powder and MIX it well to make it a solution but it isn’t as simple as it sounds!
So, you will need alcohol swabs, a syringe (27-29 gauge insulin needles), the lyophilized peptide that you have ordered, and the bacteriostatic water or sterile water, depending on your preference. (I would personally recommend bacteriostatic water because of its longer shelf-life).
The first step is to use the alcohol swab and wipe the vials containing lyophilized peptides and the bacteriostatic/sterile water. Give half a minute for the alcohol to dry so that there is no risk of bacterial growth.
The second step is to use your syringe and draw out 1ml of bacteriostatic water from the vial without really touching the needle as it could cause contamination. For those of you thinking about the volume of water, 1ml is usually enough for all the peptides available in the market.
Video by: Chase Irons
The next and immediate step is to add the water you have drawn out into the peptide vial slowly yet smoothly. Don’t just shoot the water like a spray or something. What you should be doing is drip the water onto the inner surface of the vial so that there is enough time for the lyophilized peptide and water to mix.
Note that you should not stir or shake the vial as it is going to damage the peptide and it will no longer be effective.
You will soon see that your peptide powder will be dissolved and the vial will be transparent.
Done, your reconstitution is done!
I am sure that most of the things would be clear by now. Because visual guidance is a far better approach, I searched for some YouTube videos that could help you in the process. The video I would recommend is embedded below.
Now that you know the general peptide reconstitution guidelines, let’s talk about some of the exceptions.
While most of the peptides will be in bacteriostatic water and sterile water, some really won’t, and this will be depending on the polarity of the peptides.
To know the best solvent in which a peptide will be soluble, you must have to consider some biochemistry knowledge and do some trial and error.
Acidic peptides will be best soluble in basic solution and vice versa. Researchers also use organic solvents such as Acetic acid and DMSO to dissolve hydrophobic peptides and polar uncharged amino acids.
Note that sodium chloride water shouldn’t be used as it may result in precipitates.
Once the peptide is made soluble in any of the relevant solutions, diluting it with bacteriostatic water or sterile water is recommended.
What is Peptide Mixing Water used for?
As discussed earlier, peptide mixing water is used to dissolve/dilute the lyophilized peptides.
Because most peptides are sold in powder form, one needs to dissolve/dilute them before really using them.
Can you reconstitute peptides with distilled water?
Yes, distilled water can also be used to reconstitute peptides alongside bacteriostatic and sterile water.
But not all peptides dissolve in water easily, so it usually is recommended that you try to dissolve the peptide in any of these waters using Sonication. This process is often helpful in breaking down the big solid lumps of peptides in the water and aids in the dissolution process.
If the peptide still doesn’t get dissolved, perform trial and error and use various other solvents.
How much bacteriostatic water do you mix with peptides?
The universal rule is to use 1 milliliter of bacteriostatic water for every peptide that you reconstitute.
You can go as high as 2 milliliters per peptide reconstitution as it does not harm other than more dilution.
How to Store Reconstituted Peptides
Reconstituted peptides can be stored in several ways, depending on the duration of storage and the desired shelf life. Here are some general guidelines for storing reconstituted peptides:
Short-term storage: If you plan to use the reconstituted peptide within a few days, you can store it at 4°C in the dark. It is essential to avoid exposure to light and high temperatures, which can lead to peptide degradation.
Long-term storage: For long-term storage, it is recommended to aliquot the reconstituted peptide into small volumes and freeze them at -20°C or -80°C. This method can preserve the peptide’s stability and activity for several months to years, depending on the peptide’s properties and storage conditions.
Freeze-drying: Freeze-drying, also known as lyophilization, is a method that removes water from the peptide solution and allows the peptide to be stored in a stable, dry form at room temperature for an extended period. However, this method requires special equipment and expertise.
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles: It is essential to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, as they can cause damage to the peptide and decrease its stability and activity.
In summary, the best way to store reconstituted peptides depends on the duration of storage and the desired shelf life. Short-term storage can be done at 4°C, while long-term storage can be done by freezing at -20°C or -80°C, or by lyophilization. It is essential to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and exposure to light and high temperatures.
How do you reconstitute BPC 157 5mg?
Okay, so this is some math stuff that I need to explain to you before it gets on your nerves.
If you don’t know what BPC 157 is, it is a peptide that is used by athletes and bodybuilders to recover from injuries and aid in the healing process. Read the full review on BPC 157 only at Muscle and Brawn.
The recommended dosage of BPC 157 is somewhere between 200mcg to 1000mcg, depending on your body weight. Let’s just assume that you have been prescribed 500mcg of BPC 157.
For the 5mg vial of BPC 157, you will have to use 1 ml of bacteriostatic water.
One vial of BPC 157 contains 5mg, which also means 5000mcg.
Because there is 1ml of bacteriostatic water, this means that we need to mix 5000mcg with 1ml of bacteriostatic water.
As the recommended dosage is 500mcg, dividing the total of 5000mcg by 500mcg will yield 10 injections per BPC 157 vial.
To reconstitute 10 equal dosages, we need to mix 1 ml of bacteriostatic water in all 10 injections, which means 0.1 ml of water per dosage.
Using the 28-29 gauge insulin syringe, you will have to draw 0.1 ml of water per injection. On the insulin syringe, 100 units correspond to 1 ml, so 10 units will correspond to 0.1 ml of bacteriostatic water.
In a nutshell, to make the 1 proper dosage of BPC-157, you would need to draw 10 units of water and then mix it by following the reconstitution guidelines.
How to mix peptides in the same syringe?
Well, people have been mixing peptides in the same syringe and then administering them.
Only if the peptides are of the same nature such as growth hormone (GH) influencers or if you see any vendors selling a stack of particular peptides, only those you should mix.
The process is simple. All you have to do is add the desirable reconstituted peptides in 1 vial and then use the syringe to pull out the mixture so that you can administer it.
How do you store sterile water for injections?
As I mentioned at the start, the sterile water vial doesn’t contain benzyl alcohol which makes it unfavorable for storage.
Once you open the seal of the sterile water vial, you will either have to use it preferably within the next 4 hours, or discard it. There is no other option.
Is distilled water the same as sterile water?
Distilled water is a form of sterile water but sterile water is not always distilled!
Ok, let me shatter the confusion!
Sterile water is free of any organic materials but contains inorganic materials to some extent. On the other hand, distilled water is rather more sterilized and contains neither organic nor organic materials.
Can you inject bacteriostatic water?
No, you can’t just inject bacteriostatic water alone!
The benzyl alcohol in it would cause red blood cell lysis. Perhaps other adverse effects include fever, abscess formation, thrombosis, tissue death, and infection.
How long does bacteriostatic saline last?
If kept under appropriate conditions, bacteriostatic saline can last up to 28 days.
Why is there a shortage of sterile water?
While there is not a long-term shortage, an acute shortage is often seen because of either manufacturing facilities malfunction’ or some medical emergency such as COVID-19.
Click here to view the article.
