Bacteriostatic Water

Bacteriostatic water is sterile water containing a small amount of benzyl alcohol as a preservative, which helps inhibit bacterial growth after the vial has been opened or accessed.

In peptide research, bacteriostatic water is commonly used as a diluent for reconstituting lyophilised (freeze-dried) peptides. The liquid is added to the peptide vial to dissolve the powdered material and create a solution suitable for the intended laboratory or research application. Because it contains a preservative, bacteriostatic water is designed for multiple withdrawals from the same vial, unlike sterile water products intended for single use.