Bacteriostatic water: why is it essential for your peptides?
1. What is bacteriostatic water?
Bacteriostatic water is a sterile water specially formulated for the reconstitution of peptides in the laboratory. It contains a very small amount of benzyl alcohol (0.9%) which prevents bacterial growth in the bottle after opening.
Unlike ordinary sterile water, bacteriostatic water enables reconstituted products to be stored longer and in complete safety, making it ideal for research solutions requiring multiple sampling.
2. Why is it used with peptides?
Peptides are supplied as lyophilized powder (dry powder). In order to be studied or manipulated in the laboratory, they must be reconstituted with suitable water.
Bacteriostatic water enables :
- Safe reconstitution: limits bacterial proliferation in the reconstituted solution.
- Better storage: thanks to benzyl alcohol, the reconstituted mixture can be stored for several days in the fridge, unlike sterile water, which has to be used all at once.
- Precise dosing: it facilitates handling and allows several samples to be taken from the same bottle without compromising sterility.
3. How much to use?
The amount of water to add depends on the peptide and the desired concentration, but the general rule remains the same:
- Gently add water along the side of the bottle.
- Do not shake vigorously, but gently rotate the bottle between your fingers until the powder is completely dissolved.
4. Storage: how long?
Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, a peptide can generally be stored in the refrigerator for a period of around 20 to 30 days.
- Refrigerated storage: generally 20 to 30 days.
- Do not freeze the reconstituted solution.
- Peptide powder (not reconstituted) should be stored in a cool, dry place, protected from light.
The exact duration may vary according to the studies available for each peptide. Use is strictly for research purposes.
5. Can bacteriostatic water be replaced by sterile water?
Sterile water can be used, but is not recommended if the bottle is to be used more than once.
In a nutshell:
- Sterile water: immediate, one-time use.
- Bacteriostatic water: prolonged use, with multiple sampling possible over time.
For this reason, bacteriostatic water is strongly recommended for the reconstitution of peptides used in multi-day research.
6. Why do some customers forget?
Bacteriostatic water is sold separately from the peptide, and many customers only realize at the time of reconstitution that they are lacking the necessary water.
To avoid this oversight, we recommend that you always check that you have :
- Peptide vial(s).
- Bacteriostatic water for reconstitution.
- Handling equipment adapted to your research protocol.
7. Where to buy bacteriostatic water
You can obtain your bacteriostatic water directly from our website: Bacteriostatic water 30 ml - Peptivia Lab .
By adding bacteriostatic water to your order at the same time as your peptides, you can be sure of having everything you need to reconstitute according to your research protocol.