Bacteriostatic water 3ml is a sterile, multi-dose diluent preserved with 0.9% benzyl alcohol, supplied in a compact vial for laboratories that need smaller reconstitution volumes without committing to a larger pack size. This page covers what’s included, full technical specifications, and how the 3ml size compares to our 10ml and 30ml vials. All products described on this page are supplied for laboratory and research use only, not for human or veterinary use, diagnostic use, or any form of consumption.
What Is Bacteriostatic Water?
Bacteriostatic water is water for injection (WFI) preserved with 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which inhibits bacterial growth so a vial can be accessed more than once without being discarded after a single draw. It’s the standard diluent used across research laboratories for reconstituting lyophilised (freeze-dried) compounds into solution.
Unlike single-draw sterile water for injection (SWFI), the benzyl alcohol preservative in bacteriostatic water is what allows a multi-dose vial to remain viable for repeated use in a laboratory setting, provided aseptic technique is used for every draw.
This 3ml bacteriostatic water is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory and research use. It is not manufactured, labelled, or supplied for human or animal administration, diagnostic use, or any clinical purpose.
What’s Included in The 3ml Bac Water?
- Vial size: 3ml
- Physical form: sterile liquid, clear and colourless
- Composition: Water for Injection with 0.9% w/v benzyl alcohol preservative
- Included documentation: batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) available on request
Technical Specifications of The Bacteriostatic Water 3ml
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Diluent | Water for Injection (WFI) |
| Product | Bacteriostatic Water |
| Preservative | Benzyl alcohol, 0.9% (9 mg/mL) |
| Preservative CAS Number | 100-51-6 |
| Vial Volume | 3ml |
| Container | Glass Vial |
| Form | Sterile liquid |
| Use classification | Laboratory and research use |
| Appearance | Clear, colourless liquid |
| Pyrogen status | Non-Pyrogenic |
Who This Bac Water 3ml Size Is For?
The 3ml vial is the right choice for labs and individual researchers who:
- Work with smaller-volume reconstitution protocols and don’t need a full 10ml or 30ml supply on hand
- Want to limit open-vial time and reduce the amount of preserved diluent held in inventory once opened
- Are testing a new compound at small scale before scaling up to larger diluent volumes
- Need a single-project, easy-to-store vial size for short-term research runs
For higher-volume or multi-user laboratory settings, the 10ml or 30ml sizes are typically more cost-efficient per ml, see the comparison below.
| Size | Best For | Relative Cost per ml |
|---|---|---|
| 3ml | Small-scale or single-project research, minimal open-vial wastage | Higher |
| 10ml | Regular lab use, multiple reconstitutions | Medium |
| 30ml | High-throughput or multi-user laboratory settings | Lower |
Need a larger supply? See our 10ml bacteriostatic water and 30ml bacteriostatic water pages for multi-dose and high-volume options.
Storage & Handling
Store unopened vials at controlled room temperature (20–25°C / 68–77°F), away from direct light. Once a vial has been punctured, use aseptic technique for every subsequent draw. Standard laboratory practice for benzyl alcohol-preserved multi-dose diluents is to limit the in-use period (commonly 28 days from first puncture) to reduce contamination risk, confirm the exact interval against your own laboratory SOP. Do not use if the solution appears cloudy, discoloured, or contains visible particulate.
Certificate of Analysis & Quality Assurance
Each batch is manufactured under controlled, sterile conditions and tested for sterility, endotoxin/pyrogen levels, pH, and benzyl alcohol concentration prior to release. A batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is available for this product on request, confirming purity, sterility testing, and preservative content for full traceability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 3ml bacteriostatic water used for?
In a laboratory setting, it’s used as a diluent to reconstitute lyophilised research compounds into a liquid solution ahead of further study. It is not intended for human or animal use.
What’s the difference between bacteriostatic water and sterile water?
Bacteriostatic water contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which inhibits bacterial growth and allows a vial to be used more than once. Sterile (non-bacteriostatic) water for injection has no preservative and is intended for a single draw.
How long does an opened 3ml vial last?
Once punctured, standard practice for benzyl alcohol-preserved multi-dose diluents is to use the vial within roughly 28 days, provided it is stored correctly and accessed aseptically each time. Always follow your lab’s own SOP.
Is 3ml enough for small-scale reconstitution work?
Yes — the 3ml size is designed for smaller reconstitution volumes or single-project use where a full 10ml or 30ml vial isn’t needed.
How should bacteriostatic water be stored?
Store unopened vials at controlled room temperature, away from direct light, and inspect the solution before each use for clarity and the absence of particulate.
Is this bacteriostatic water sterile?
Yes, it is sterile and aseptically filled, with each batch tested prior to release.
What concentration of benzyl alcohol does this product contain?
0.9% w/v benzyl alcohol, in line with standard bacteriostatic water formulations (CAS 100-51-6).
Where can I find the Certificate of Analysis for this batch?
A batch-specific COA is available on request — contact us with your order or batch number.
Scientific References
- Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP — FDA-approved prescribing label confirming the 0.9% benzyl alcohol preservative standard for multi-dose bacteriostatic water. DailyMed / U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=87d6e9dc-fe3b-4593-ac9a-d7493d1959c7
