Bacteriostatic Water
Sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol, used to dissolve freeze-dried peptides; the preservative allows repeated draws from one vial.
Prescription/medical supply.
Look it up on Wikipedia1 listing across 1 independently tested vendor, ranked by price per milligram after coupon codes anyone can use. Vendors you can only order from by message are hidden.
Daily price tracking started October 7, 2026; a price-history chart appears here once a few days have been collected.
| Vendor | Trust | Listing | Vials | Price | Per mg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peptides Book #186 by metascore |
Metascore 73 medium confidenceFinnrick 81%Bought vials 92% of label · 3 testsTitrateLabNo public reportsOnline checkout |
wa3 3mg*10vials | 10 × 3 mg = 30 mg | $12.00 $1.20 per vial |
$0.400 | Buy |
Mixing a 3 mg vial
What each common amount of bacteriostatic water gives you on a U-100 insulin syringe. Pick a vial size above to change it.
| Water | Strength | Per 10 units (0.1 mL) | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 3 mg/mL | 300 mcg | 30 mcg |
| 2 mL | 1.5 mg/mL | 150 mcg | 15 mcg |
| 3 mL | 1 mg/mL | 100 mcg | 10 mcg |
| 5 mL | 0.6 mg/mL | 60 mcg | 6 mcg |
Published lab results
13 certificates of analysis that vendors publish for Bacteriostatic Water. Numbers are only filled in where the document is readable text; image-only COAs are linked without numbers. A vendor's own COA shows one tested sample, not every batch.
| Vendor | Lab | Date | Label | Measured | Purity | Batch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solira |
Chromate | 2026-09-16 | – | – | – | View | |
Peptide Partners |
TrustPointe Analytics | 2026-09-10 | – | – | 95.293% | BAC2611 (manufacturer US01); TrustPointe key KVQD67BFKYKQ | View |
Peptide Partners |
TrustPointe Analytics | 2026-08-14 | – | – | 92.607% | BAC2608 (manufacturer US01); TrustPointe key 9DDRGKJMEHQ6 | View |
Precision Peptide Co |
Kovera Labs | 2026-08-11 | – | – | – | BA3-06/26; report KVR-2026-CC56C2 | View (image) |
Paramount Peptides |
Accumark Labs | 2026-08-07 | – | – | – | 26VBAS072 | View (image) |
Paramount Peptides |
Accumark Labs | 2026-07-16 | – | – | – | 26VBAS141 | View (image) |
Paramount Peptides |
Accumark Labs | 2026-07-16 | – | – | – | 26VBAS124 | View (image) |
Paramount Peptides |
Accumark Labs | 2026-07-16 | – | – | – | 26VBAS208 | View (image) |
Paramount Peptides |
Accumark Labs | 2026-07-16 | – | – | – | 25VBAS209 | View (image) |
Peptide Partners |
Kovera Labs | 2026-07-13 | – | – | 99.9% | BAC202606 (manufacturer WF03) | View |
Peptides For Less |
Kovera Labs | 2026-04-12 | – | – | – | BW04052610 | View |
Shenzhen Aurora Biotechnology |
Janoshik | 2026-03-05 | – | – | – | View (image) | |
WKC Walker Chemicals |
Janoshik | – | – | – | – | View (image) |
Doses studied in research Approved drug
What was given to people (or animals) in published studies and official labels, each linked to its source. This is not a recommendation: study products, purity and supervision differ from research-grade vials.
No dose of its own. The label states the volume used depends on the vehicle concentration, dose and route recommended by the drug's manufacturer. Contains 0.9% (9 mg/mL) or 1.1% (11 mg/mL) benzyl alcohol; must be made approximately isotonic before use; contraindicated in neonates, for fluid replacement, and in epidural or spinal anaesthesia. (used to prepare intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injections)
Official labelBacteriostatic water is a diluent, not an active treatment, so it has no studied therapeutic dose. Benzyl alcohol given in large flush volumes caused fatal 'gasping syndrome' in premature newborns.
What the research says
Bacteriostatic water is sterile water with about 0.9% benzyl alcohol added as a preservative. At the volumes used to reconstitute injections it is well tolerated in adults - it even slightly numbs the skin - but benzyl alcohol caused fatal 'gasping syndrome' in premature newborns given flush volumes in the 1980s, and it is a recognised contact allergen and locally toxic to eye tissue.
Key papers ✓ 3✗ 5~ 1
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The gasping syndrome and benzyl alcohol poisoning.Humanssize not reportedNo control groupReport (no abstract available)
The report linking the neonatal gasping syndrome to benzyl alcohol poisoning, the observation that led to benzyl-alcohol-preserved flushes being withdrawn from newborn care.
Study details
- Authors' conclusion
- No abstract is available; per its title the paper concerns the gasping syndrome and benzyl alcohol poisoning.
- Limitations
- No abstract available to verify details.
-
Benzyl alcohol metabolism and elimination in neonates.Humans14 term and 9 preterm neonatesPharmacokinetic study of benzoic and hippuric acid levels
In 14 term and 9 preterm neonates given phenobarbital containing benzyl alcohol, preterm infants accumulated far more benzoic acid in serum (peak 2130.6 vs 237.8 kg/l) and excreted less hippuric acid, showing immature detoxification.
Key resultNormalized peak benzoic acid was higher in preterm than term neonates (2130.6 vs. 237.8 kg/l, p less than 0.001); normalized AUCIV 1,253.2 vs. 483.0 kg.h/l (p less than 0.01)
Study details
- Studied
- Term and preterm neonates receiving phenobarbital loading doses containing benzyl alcohol
- Compared with
- Term vs preterm neonates
- Main outcome
- Serum and urine benzoic and hippuric acid
- Authors' conclusion
- Hippuric acid formation is deficient in preterm neonates, confirming immature benzoic acid detoxification. The authors could not directly answer the safety of low benzyl alcohol doses.
- Limitations
- No toxic signs of the benzyl alcohol syndrome were seen, so low-dose safety is unresolved.
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Saline with benzyl alcohol as intradermal anesthesia for intravenous line placement in children.Humans99 children, 33 per groupRandomizedProspective randomized clinical trial
In 99 children randomized to intradermal saline with 0.9% benzyl alcohol, intradermal lidocaine or no anaesthetic before IV placement, median pain was 9 mm for the preserved saline versus 41 mm with no anaesthetic and 10 mm with lidocaine.
Key resultMedian pain 41.0 mm (no anesthetic), 9.0 mm (saline with benzyl alcohol), 10.0 mm (lidocaine); P = 0.006 saline vs nonanesthetic, P = 0.57 saline vs lidocaine
Study details
- Studied
- Children over 6.8 years old in an urban pediatric emergency department needing i.v. placement
- Compared with
- Intradermal lidocaine or no anesthesia
- Main outcome
- Pain of entire i.v. placement procedure (visual analog scale)
- Authors' conclusion
- Saline with benzyl alcohol and 1% lidocaine are equally effective as intradermal anesthetics for i.v. placement in children, and both more effective than no anesthesia.
- Limitations
- Convenience sample.
-
Bacteriostatic normal saline compared with buffered 1% lidocaine when injected intradermally as a local anesthetic to reduce pain during intravenous catheter insertion.Humans376 peopleRandomizedDouble-blindDouble-blinded randomized experimental design
In 376 surgical patients, intradermal bacteriostatic saline with 0.9% benzyl alcohol produced the same injection pain as buffered 1% lidocaine but slightly higher pain during the subsequent IV insertion (p=0.025).
Key resultIV pain scores were lower with buffered 1% lidocaine than bacteriostatic saline (P=.025); no difference in intradermal pain scores (P=.792)
Study details
- Studied
- Presurgical patients undergoing IV catheter insertion
- Compared with
- Buffered 1% lidocaine
- Main outcome
- Pain score (10-point numeric rating scale)
- Sample
- 376 presurgical patients randomized
- Authors' conclusion
- Buffered 1% lidocaine was more effective than bacteriostatic normal saline in reducing pain during IV catheter insertion.
-
Intradermal bacteriostatic 0.9% sodium chloride containing the preservative benzyl alcohol compared with intradermal lidocaine hydrochloride 1% for attenuation of intravenous cannulation pain.Humans40 adult presurgical patients, own controlsWithin-patient comparison (each patient served as own control)
In 40 presurgical patients acting as their own controls, intradermal bacteriostatic 0.9% sodium chloride with benzyl alcohol relieved cannulation pain as well as 1% lidocaine.
Key resultNo significant difference in perceived cannulation pain between pretreatments
Study details
- Studied
- Adult presurgical patients requiring two large bore IV catheters
- Compared with
- Intradermal lidocaine hydrochloride 1%
- Main outcome
- Pain of IV cannulation (visual analogue scale)
- Authors' conclusion
- Intradermal bacteriostatic 0.9% sodium chloride with benzyl alcohol appears as effective as intradermal lidocaine 1% in attenuating IV cannulation pain.
-
Bacteriostatic preserved saline for pain-free periocular injections: review.No new data62 studies pooledLiterature review
A review of 62 studies of benzyl-alcohol-preserved saline for periocular injections found lower injection pain in five studies and very low infection rates, supporting its use as a diluent.
Study details
- Studied
- Literature on benzyl alcohol-preserved saline for periocular injections
- Main outcome
- Injection pain and bacteriostatic properties
- Sample
- 62 studies identified on preserved saline since 1928
- Authors' conclusion
- Preserved saline reduces pain of periocular botulinum toxin and local anaesthetic injections versus unpreserved saline, with minimal reported complications; lidocaine solutions are more effective for IV catheter insertion pain.
- Limitations
- Narrative literature review.
-
Benzyl Alcohol: Allergen of the Year 2026.No new dataNarrative review / awareness statement
Benzyl alcohol was named Allergen of the Year 2026 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society; it can cause allergic contact dermatitis with repeated exposure and is missing from many standard patch-test series.
Study details
- Authors' conclusion
- Benzyl alcohol can cause allergic contact dermatitis, particularly with prolonged or repeated exposure, and is not in many standard patch test series; it was named 2026 Allergen of the Year.
- Limitations
- No original data.
-
In vitro benzyl alcohol cytotoxicity: implications for intravitreal use of triamcinolone acetonide.Cells / lab5 to 120 min exposuresIn vitro cytotoxicity study
In cultured human and rabbit retinal pigment epithelial cells, benzyl alcohol at the concentration found in commercial triamcinolone suspensions (9 mg/mL) killed cells within 5 minutes by necrosis, and 0.225 mg/mL impaired function at 2 hours.
Key resultBA 0.225mg/mL impaired human RPE cell function at 2h; 0.0225mg/mL did not; 9.0mg/mL was toxic within 5min
Study details
- Studied
- Human ARPE-19 and rabbit retinal pigment epithelial cells
- Compared with
- Balanced salt solution control
- Main outcome
- RPE cell death and function
- Authors' conclusion
- Benzyl alcohol at concentrations in commercial triamcinolone suspensions can damage RPE cells; the authors suggest removing the vehicle before intravitreal use.
- Limitations
- In vitro study.
-
Incompatibility of ifosfamide with benzyl-alcohol-preserved bacteriostatic water for injection.No new dataReport (no abstract available)
Ifosfamide is chemically incompatible with benzyl-alcohol-preserved bacteriostatic water for injection, so the diluent is not interchangeable with plain sterile water for every drug.
Study details
- Authors' conclusion
- No abstract is available; per its title the paper reports an incompatibility of ifosfamide with benzyl-alcohol-preserved bacteriostatic water for injection.
- Limitations
- No abstract available to verify details.
Reported side effects
- reportedGasping syndrome and death in premature newborns [ref] [ref]
- reportedBenzoic acid accumulation in preterm infants [ref]
- reportedAllergic contact dermatitis to benzyl alcohol [ref] [ref]
- commonInjection-site pain [ref]
Benzyl alcohol should not be used in neonates or for intrathecal and intraocular routes, and total benzyl alcohol dose matters in small bodies; adult reconstitution volumes are far below the amounts implicated in the neonatal deaths.
1 registered human trial (0 active)
✓ positive · ✗ negative · ~ mixed · ? inconclusive, judged on each paper's own main outcome. Grades: A strong human evidence → D little or none. Papers and verdicts are drawn from PubMed, Europe PMC and Russian journals (CyberLeninka); not medical advice.
Registered clinical trials 1 on ClinicalTrials.gov · 0 active · 1 completed
| Trial | Status | Phase | People | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemostatic Effect of Intrauterine Instillation of Oxytocin in Hysteroscopic Myomectomy NCT04996498 · started 2021-04-15 |
Completed | – | 60 | Ain Shams Maternity Hospital |
All 1 Bacteriostatic Water trials, with countries and summaries · Search ClinicalTrials.gov · Recruiting trials for every peptide
Discussions elsewhere
Experiences and questions about Bacteriostatic Water on other sites. Treat anecdotes with care.
Bacteriostatic Water: questions people ask
What is Bacteriostatic Water?
Reconstitution solvent. Sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol, used to dissolve freeze-dried peptides; the preservative allows repeated draws from one vial.
How much does Bacteriostatic Water cost?
The cheapest Bacteriostatic Water from an independently tested vendor is $0.400 per mg (Peptides Book, wa3 3mg*10vials, $12.00). Across 1 listings from 1 vendors the median is $0.400 per mg.
Where can I buy Bacteriostatic Water?
1 vendors tested by Finnrick sell Bacteriostatic Water. The cheapest per mg right now: Peptides Book ($0.400). 0 of them publish a lab report (COA) for Bacteriostatic Water; compare lab scores and reports in the table above before buying.
Is Bacteriostatic Water FDA approved?
Prescription/medical supply.
Does Bacteriostatic Water work? What does the research say?
Evidence grade B (some human evidence), from 9 papers: Two RCTs (475 people) used benzyl-alcohol-preserved saline as a skin anaesthetic, not as a diluent; its harms come from neonatal case reports and cell studies. Bacteriostatic water is sterile water with about 0.9% benzyl alcohol added as a preservative. At the volumes used to reconstitute injections it is well tolerated in adults - it even slightly numbs the skin - but benzyl alcohol caused fatal 'gasping syndrome' in premature newborns given flush volumes in the 1980s, and it is a recognised contact allergen and locally toxic to eye tissue. See the papers.
Are there clinical trials of Bacteriostatic Water?
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 1 registered trials of Bacteriostatic Water: 0 active, 1 completed. Examples: Hemostatic Effect of Intrauterine Instillation of Oxytocin in Hysteroscopic Myomectomy (Completed, 60 people).
What dose of Bacteriostatic Water was used in studies?
Bacteriostatic Water is an approved drug. Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (Hospira): No dose of its own. The label states the volume used depends on the vehicle concentration, dose and route recommended by the drug's manufacturer. Contains 0.9% (9 mg/mL) or 1.1% (11 mg/mL) benzyl alcohol; must be made approximately isotonic before use; contraindicated in neonates, for fluid replacement, and in epidural or spinal anaesthesia.. These are amounts used in published studies or official labels, not a recommendation.
What are the side effects of Bacteriostatic Water?
Reported in the research: Gasping syndrome and death in premature newborns; Benzoic acid accumulation in preterm infants; Allergic contact dermatitis to benzyl alcohol; Injection-site pain. Benzyl alcohol should not be used in neonates or for intrathecal and intraocular routes, and total benzyl alcohol dose matters in small bodies; adult reconstitution volumes are far below the amounts implicated in the neonatal deaths.