What Is Distilled Water (Laboratory Grade)?
Laboratory-grade distilled water is purified water that has been boiled to vapor and recondensed to remove dissolved solids, minerals, and most contaminants. It is typically not sterile-filtered, not preserved, and not specified for reconstitution of lyophilized research compounds.
Side-by-Side Specification
| Criterion | Bacteriostatic Water (BW-10) | Distilled Water |
|---|---|---|
| Sterility | Sterile (USP <71> compliant) | Generally non-sterile |
| Preservative | 0.9% Benzyl Alcohol | None |
| Reconstitution Use | Yes — standard diluent | Not specified for reconstitution |
| Container Specification | Type I Borosilicate, sealed | Plastic carboys/bottles common |
| CoA per Lot | Yes, available on request | Rare |
| Typical Use | Multi-dose research reconstitution | Glassware rinsing, dilutions |
When to Use Bacteriostatic Water
Use bacteriostatic water for reconstituting lyophilized research compounds where sterility and multi-dose stability are required. The 0.9% benzyl alcohol preservative provides the bacteriostatic barrier needed for multi-draw protocols.
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When to Use Distilled Water
Use distilled water for non-sterile laboratory tasks: rinsing glassware, preparing buffer dilutions where sterility is not a downstream concern, or topping up water baths. Do not substitute distilled water for bacteriostatic water in reconstitution applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use distilled water instead of bacteriostatic water?
Generally no — distilled water lacks both the sterility verification and the bacteriostatic preservative that research reconstitution applications require. Using distilled water in place of bacteriostatic water introduces sterility and contamination risk.
Is distilled water sterile?
Most commercial distilled water is not sterile-filtered or sterility-tested. Boiling reduces but does not eliminate all microbial content, and once cooled and bottled, the product is exposed to environmental contamination.
What about USP-Purified water?
USP-Purified Water is a regulatory category distinct from both distilled and bacteriostatic water. It has specific purity requirements but is also not preserved or sterility-verified to bacteriostatic water specifications.
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