Sterile water vs Research Water
Both are water. The difference is the preservative and how the container is meant to be used.
Comparison
| Attribute | Sterile water | Research Water |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Sterile water, no added preservative | Sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol (preservative) |
| Also catalogued as | Sterile water for laboratory use | Bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol) |
| Preservative | None | Benzyl alcohol, 0.9% |
| Documentation | Varies by supplier | Certificate of Analysis per lot |
| Intended use here | Not sold by Research Water Supply | Research use only |
Whichever you choose, record the lot number and keep the COA with your lab records.
When labs choose each
Plain sterile water
Laboratories choose water without a preservative when the preservative could interfere with the work, or when a container is opened once and discarded.
Research Water
Laboratories choose a preserved water when a container will be opened more than once and the protocol calls for a preservative to be present. Check your protocol and the lot COA to confirm the composition suits your application.
Whichever you choose, record the lot number and keep the COA with your lab records.
For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.