How Long Does BAC Water Last?

[ashleybaby_26]

Alright, after reading all the responses in this thread: sure, hospitals handle it that way, but they burn through their supply far faster than someone using it at home. Other than the fact that the instructions tell you to, what's the reason for storing it at room temperature?

My thinking is that putting it in the fridge would slow down anything that might end up in there, since cold temperatures tend to inhibit growth. As I said earlier, mine has always lived in the fridge, so I'd love to hear any info anyone has!

(I do get why it needs to stay out of light, though)

 

[SeaGypsy]

BNLFL said:

CheetosYum said:

After you puncture it, you still keep it at room temperature? From what I've seen in other places, the guidance is room temp while it's unopened, then fridge once it's been opened.

Correct, I don't keep it in the refrigerator. The remainder of the case sits in a dark cabinet in my laundry room. Before that, it stayed in a cabinet out in the garage, until temperatures began reaching 95* both outside and inside the garage.

Ahhhhhh, Florida

I keep using it right through to the end; I believe the longest stretch for me was 3 months. It wasn't chilled, wasn't shielded from light, and nothing went wrong.

 

[Mimsy]

I was looking this up too. Our first 30mg Reta vials are almost gone, and 20mg should arrive in the mail this week. The BAC water we started with is still in the fridge, roughly ~2.5 months old. After searching around and asking a few AI models, the answer came back as ~29 days.

From what I'm seeing, plenty of people stretch theirs well past that and don't run into problems. It also seems like refrigeration isn't necessary. So when the next bottle comes, I'll probably just leave it at room temperature.

 

[Skidude]

SeaGypsy said:

BNLFL said:

CheetosYum said:

After you puncture it, you still keep it at room temperature? From what I've seen in other places, the guidance is room temp while it's unopened, then fridge once it's been opened.

Correct, I don't keep it in the refrigerator. The remainder of the case sits in a dark cabinet in my laundry room. Before that, it stayed in a cabinet out in the garage, until temperatures began reaching 95* both outside and inside the garage.

Ahhhhhh, Florida

I keep using it right through to the end; I believe the longest stretch for me was 3 months. It wasn't chilled, wasn't shielded from light, and nothing went wrong.

Same situation here — the final bottle from a batch 18 months old is what I'm currently using, and I've been injecting from it for roughly 2 months.

I also have another case that's 8 months old, which I'll keep drawing from until it's gone. Once I start a bottle, it's typically used up in 3 months or less, more often 6-8 weeks, though I wouldn't hesitate to stretch it further.

Stored somewhere cool and dark, inside a clean sealed box, and wiped down both before and after each use.

 

[JoonyO]

I don't do anything special and I'm not working under sterile conditions. The vial just lives in an open dresser drawer, and the stopper is left uncovered. When I need it, I give it a wipe with an alcohol pad, same as I'd do with any other vial. I keep going until the bottle runs dry, which right now works out to about 2-3 months per bottle. I took a look at the cemetery... nope, I'm still not in there... not yet.

In my view, eidos's link settles any debate about whether it needs to go in the fridge.

eiodos: Pfizer Hospira Safety Data Sheet: https://cdn.pfizer.com/pfizercom/pr...Bacteriostatic_H2O(Hospira)_25-Jul-2016_0.pdf

Section 7: "Do not refrigerate"

 

[javajoe316]

What’s the situation with bottles that haven’t been punctured yet? My monthly use is just 2ml, occasionally 3. I picked up 2 bottles of 30ml each. It could be a whole year before I puncture the second one. Would it still be sterile? Can the BA evaporate inside a bottle that remains sealed?

 

[eidos]

javajoe316 said:

What’s the situation with bottles that haven’t been punctured yet? My monthly use is just 2ml, occasionally 3. I picked up 2 bottles of 30ml each. It could be a whole year before I puncture the second one. Would it still be sterile? Can the BA evaporate inside a bottle that remains sealed?

Keep them out of light so they don't oxidize into benzaldehyde or free radicals.

An unopened bottle can remain good for an extremely long time.

Evaporation always happens to some degree, and it will reach equilibrium with whatever concentration is in the solution. Even with the container open, the headspace above the water is too small for that to cause an issue.

You can run two straightforward checks: test the pH using a strip, and sniff the water (draw with a syringe: never open the bottle, never dip a strip in it). A faint almond-like smell is fine; a very strong smell is bad, since that means it has gone bad, but it is still usable (unless it stings...).

 

[Skidude]

eidos said:

javajoe316 said:

What’s the situation with bottles that haven’t been punctured yet? My monthly use is just 2ml, occasionally 3. I picked up 2 bottles of 30ml each. It could be a whole year before I puncture the second one. Would it still be sterile? Can the BA evaporate inside a bottle that remains sealed?

Keep them out of light so they don't oxidize into benzaldehyde or free radicals.

An unopened bottle can remain good for an extremely long time.

Evaporation always happens to some degree, and it will reach equilibrium with whatever concentration is in the solution. Even with the container open, the headspace above the water is too small for that to cause an issue.

You can run two straightforward checks: test the pH using a strip, and sniff the water (draw with a syringe: never open the bottle, never dip a strip in it). A faint almond-like smell is fine; a very strong smell is bad, since that means it has gone bad, but it is still usable (unless it stings...).

I really need to say how grateful I am for how detailed your replies are—you keep sending me off to search on Google, but honestly I enjoy these deep dives!

Thank you, Eidos!

 

[Whiynot20026]

I came across a video about pH testing strips not long ago, and the forum actually suggested a particular brand, so I went ahead and purchased them. When I checked my BAC water with those strips, the reading came back at ideal pH levels. Does that suffice? What’s the point of mailing it off for lab analysis? The strip results left me perfectly satisfied. On another note, if my BAC water is 3 months old, could the pH shift as it sits longer? Or is a single test of the bottle all that’s needed?

Bill

 

[eidos]

Whiynot20026 said:

I came across a video about pH testing strips not long ago, and the forum actually suggested a particular brand, so I went ahead and purchased them. When I checked my BAC water with those strips, the reading came back at ideal pH levels. Does that suffice? What’s the point of mailing it off for lab analysis? The strip results left me perfectly satisfied. On another note, if my BAC water is 3 months old, could the pH shift as it sits longer? Or is a single test of the bottle all that’s needed?

Bill

When I first open it, I check it, and then roughly every 30 days if I happen to remember. After I fill the vial for reconstitution, there is usually a leftover drop in the syringe and on the needle. I touch the tip to the absorbent pad, and it soaks in by itself. That means no extra draw and no fresh needle are required.

Since test strips cost so little, there is no reason to skip them. Testing pH has been a hobby of mine since I was 13... back then I even had my mom pick up a red cabbage so I could check the pH.

If every puncture is made with a new, sterile needle and alcohol is used, only a tiny amount can enter. A little still will, but there is nothing in there for microbes to feed on; even so, bacteria deserve caution, because they can catch us off guard: certain ones have even begun consuming the plastic islands drifting in the oceans.

The issue of pH drift comes from oxidation as time passes. Each time you take out more water, additional oxygen from the air gets into the bottle. You might think about pulling a bit of air in with a syringe, yet the negative pressure could draw outside material in through the holes in the septum. On reflection, that is not a good plan.

 

[Skidude]

eidos said:

Whiynot20026 said:

I came across a video about pH testing strips not long ago, and the forum actually suggested a particular brand, so I went ahead and purchased them. When I checked my BAC water with those strips, the reading came back at ideal pH levels. Does that suffice? What’s the point of mailing it off for lab analysis? The strip results left me perfectly satisfied. On another note, if my BAC water is 3 months old, could the pH shift as it sits longer? Or is a single test of the bottle all that’s needed?

Bill

When I first open it, I check it, and then roughly every 30 days if I happen to remember. After I fill the vial for reconstitution, there is usually a leftover drop in the syringe and on the needle. I touch the tip to the absorbent pad, and it soaks in by itself. That means no extra draw and no fresh needle are required.

Since test strips cost so little, there is no reason to skip them. Testing pH has been a hobby of mine since I was 13... back then I even had my mom pick up a red cabbage so I could check the pH.

If every puncture is made with a new, sterile needle and alcohol is used, only a tiny amount can enter. A little still will, but there is nothing in there for microbes to feed on; even so, bacteria deserve caution, because they can catch us off guard: certain ones have even begun consuming the plastic islands drifting in the oceans.

The issue of pH drift comes from oxidation as time passes. Each time you take out more water, additional oxygen from the air gets into the bottle. You might think about pulling a bit of air in with a syringe, yet the negative pressure could draw outside material in through the holes in the septum. On reflection, that is not a good plan.

Just picked up this gadget for the pool — curious whether it'd do the job


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M5IASHD?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

 

[eidos]

Skidude said:

eidos said:

Whiynot20026 said:

I came across a video about pH testing strips not long ago, and the forum actually suggested a particular brand, so I went ahead and purchased them. When I checked my BAC water with those strips, the reading came back at ideal pH levels. Does that suffice? What’s the point of mailing it off for lab analysis? The strip results left me perfectly satisfied. On another note, if my BAC water is 3 months old, could the pH shift as it sits longer? Or is a single test of the bottle all that’s needed?

Bill

When I first open it, I check it, and then roughly every 30 days if I happen to remember. After I fill the vial for reconstitution, there is usually a leftover drop in the syringe and on the needle. I touch the tip to the absorbent pad, and it soaks in by itself. That means no extra draw and no fresh needle are required.

Since test strips cost so little, there is no reason to skip them. Testing pH has been a hobby of mine since I was 13... back then I even had my mom pick up a red cabbage so I could check the pH.

If every puncture is made with a new, sterile needle and alcohol is used, only a tiny amount can enter. A little still will, but there is nothing in there for microbes to feed on; even so, bacteria deserve caution, because they can catch us off guard: certain ones have even begun consuming the plastic islands drifting in the oceans.

The issue of pH drift comes from oxidation as time passes. Each time you take out more water, additional oxygen from the air gets into the bottle. You might think about pulling a bit of air in with a syringe, yet the negative pressure could draw outside material in through the holes in the septum. On reflection, that is not a good plan.

Just picked up this gadget for the pool — curious whether it'd do the job


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M5IASHD?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

For this purpose, these strips do a better job. Around 7, they read within a quarter of a unit, which is precisely the range we need.




Amazon.com: pH Test Strips 200 Count (100×2 Bottles) – Upgraded Dual-Track 14-Color pH Strips for Urine and Saliva（4.5-9.0） Quick & Accurate Test Alkaline & Acid Levels in The Body with Color Chart on Bottle : Industrial & Scientific



Buy pH Test Strips 200 Count (100×2 Bottles) – Upgraded Dual-Track 14-Color pH Strips for Urine and Saliva（4.5-9.0） Quick & Accurate Test Alkaline & Acid Levels in The Body with Color Chart on Bottle on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

a.co

Urine testing can also tell you whether your vegetable intake is sufficient

The device will work very well, but you need to clean it after each use with distilled water and recalibrate it at least once a year using reference solutions (you can find them cheaply on AliX).

 

[Mimsy]

Fellow Canadians — what pH strip brands do you suggest? @eidos shared a link earlier, but Amazon Canada doesn't carry it. Would something along the lines of https://www.amazon.ca/SEOH-0-14-indicator-strips-100/dp/B00S1ULSY8 do the job? Also, is there any guide that states the pH BAC water ought to test at with strips? I'm going on the assumption that Gemini has it right below? I ask since it occasionally disagrees with what the communities say. Take, for instance, the shelf life of BAC water.

When testing the pH of Bacteriostatic (BAC) water, accuracy is highly critical. Standard commercial BAC water typically has an intentional, slightly acidic benchmark pH of roughly 5.7 (with an acceptable range of 4.5 to 7.0) due to the presence of 0.9% benzyl alcohol.

Click to expand...

 

[eidos]

Mimsy said:

Fellow Canadians — what pH strip brands do you suggest? @eidos shared a link earlier, but Amazon Canada doesn't carry it. Would something along the lines of https://www.amazon.ca/SEOH-0-14-indicator-strips-100/dp/B00S1ULSY8 do the job? Also, is there any guide that states the pH BAC water ought to test at with strips? I'm going on the assumption that Gemini has it right below? I ask since it occasionally disagrees with what the communities say. Take, for instance, the shelf life of BAC water.

When testing the pH of Bacteriostatic (BAC) water, accuracy is highly critical. Standard commercial BAC water typically has an intentional, slightly acidic benchmark pH of roughly 5.7 (with an acceptable range of 4.5 to 7.0) due to the presence of 0.9% benzyl alcohol.

Click to expand...

Saliva and Urine pH Test Strips,100 Paper pH Strips 4.5-9.0 | for Tracking Alkaline & Acid Levels in Body, Fast, Accurate pH Testing : Amazon.ca: Industrial & Scientific



Saliva and Urine pH Test Strips,100 Paper pH Strips 4.5-9.0 | for Tracking Alkaline & Acid Levels in Body, Fast, Accurate pH Testing : Amazon.ca: Industrial & Scientific

a.co


https://a.co/d/0atrBJR4

 

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

My hospira gets used for 90 days, after which I throw it away. By that point, there's typically very little left regardless.

 

[Flash-BCR]

Whiynot20026 said:

I came across a video about pH testing strips not long ago, and the forum actually suggested a particular brand, so I went ahead and purchased them. When I checked my BAC water with those strips, the reading came back at ideal pH levels. Does that suffice? What’s the point of mailing it off for lab analysis? The strip results left me perfectly satisfied. On another note, if my BAC water is 3 months old, could the pH shift as it sits longer? Or is a single test of the bottle all that’s needed?

Bill

The pH side of things is straightforward...What the testing would reveal is how much benzyl alcohol is left...That said, a typical user probably isn't going to bother shipping questionable BAC off to a lab....In the US at least, Hospira can be bought, and the price isn't outrageous....for now...

 

[HouseCat]

eidos said:

javajoe316 said:

What’s the situation with bottles that haven’t been punctured yet? My monthly use is just 2ml, occasionally 3. I picked up 2 bottles of 30ml each. It could be a whole year before I puncture the second one. Would it still be sterile? Can the BA evaporate inside a bottle that remains sealed?

Keep them out of light so they don't oxidize into benzaldehyde or free radicals.

An unopened bottle can remain good for an extremely long time.

Evaporation always happens to some degree, and it will reach equilibrium with whatever concentration is in the solution. Even with the container open, the headspace above the water is too small for that to cause an issue.

You can run two straightforward checks: test the pH using a strip, and sniff the water (draw with a syringe: never open the bottle, never dip a strip in it). A faint almond-like smell is fine; a very strong smell is bad, since that means it has gone bad, but it is still usable (unless it stings...).

That's @eidos for you—always bringing the depth. Big fan! And the fresh avatar looks great too!

 

[keangkong]

Stormblessed91 said:

Hey everyone,

Came across a post on reddit earlier that caught my attention. The question was about how long folks keep their BAC water around. I had always believed 28 days was the max, yet a few commenters mentioned reusing the same bottle for months on end. Figured I'd share it here and get your take.

For my Hospira BAC water, here is the approach I take: 1. The expiration date printed on the bottle gets disregarded. 2. After the stopper has been pierced, the BAC water gets used up within 90 days. With my Niimbot, the vial gets labeled with the date it was opened. Per the manufacturer's guidance, the BAC water gets stored without refrigeration. The rationale: bacteriostatic water kills bacteria more effectively while the bacteria are trying to multiply. Warmer conditions are when bacteria try to multiply. 3. When the Hospira BAC water gets added to a vial of lyophilized peptide, a fresh 90 day window begins at that point. Naturally, to preserve the peptide, the vial gets refrigerated. Using my Niimbot, the start date gets written on the lyophilized vial. Yes, I'm aware that this practice might mean BAC water opened 180 days earlier ends up being used. My reasoning for departing from Hospira's official instructions: my home probably harbors fewer disease-causing germs than a hospital does, my health is reasonably good, and the injections are subcutaneous—even though Hospira BAC water's directions allow the riskier intravenous route. The rules get followed by me not because I think any deviation would inevitably cause an infection, but because deviating would raise infection risk enough that simply following the rules is the better choice.

 

[keangkong]

eidos said:

javajoe316 said:

What’s the situation with bottles that haven’t been punctured yet? My monthly use is just 2ml, occasionally 3. I picked up 2 bottles of 30ml each. It could be a whole year before I puncture the second one. Would it still be sterile? Can the BA evaporate inside a bottle that remains sealed?

Keep them out of light so they don't oxidize into benzaldehyde or free radicals.

An unopened bottle can remain good for an extremely long time.

Evaporation always happens to some degree, and it will reach equilibrium with whatever concentration is in the solution. Even with the container open, the headspace above the water is too small for that to cause an issue.

You can run two straightforward checks: test the pH using a strip, and sniff the water (draw with a syringe: never open the bottle, never dip a strip in it). A faint almond-like smell is fine; a very strong smell is bad, since that means it has gone bad, but it is still usable (unless it stings...).

No need to fret: whenever I spot radicals, I put them to work. I certainly have no intention of letting them go free.

 

[LosBenetos]

I've gone 3 months using the same BAC water and haven't run into any problems.