What Is Hospira Bacteriostatic Water for Injection (Pfizer)?
Hospira Bacteriostatic Water for Injection is the FDA-approved clinical bacteriostatic water sold under Pfizer's Hospira brand and stocked in most US hospital pharmacies. It is supplied in 30 mL multi-dose vials and is classified as a prescription pharmaceutical (Rx-only). Hospital and pharmacy distribution requires a DEA-registered facility license or a valid prescription; it is not sold direct to consumers or research buyers in the open market.
Side-by-Side Specification
| Criterion | Bacteriostatic Water (BW-10) | Hospira |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription Required | No — research-use-only sale | Yes — Rx-only |
| Regulatory Class | Research reagent | FDA-approved drug product |
| Preservative | 0.9% Benzyl Alcohol | 0.9% Benzyl Alcohol |
| Vial Size | 10 mL (30 mL on request) | 30 mL |
| Sale Channel | Direct from manufacturer (bacwaterdepot.com) | Hospital pharmacy / licensed Rx distributor |
| Lead Time | Same-day dispatch, 2–5 day delivery | Through pharmacy supply chain — variable |
| Per-Vial Cost | $9.99 single, $6.49 bulk | Varies by pharmacy + Rx co-pay |
| Certificate of Analysis | Per-lot, 3 third-party labs | Manufacturer COA available on request |
| Country of Origin | United States (ISO 9001:2015) | United States |
| Best Use | Laboratory / research reconstitution | Clinical drug compounding |
When to Use Bacteriostatic Water
Use BAC Water Depot when the application is research, laboratory, or peptide reconstitution work that does not involve human or veterinary administration. Direct-order channel, no prescription, same-day shipping, and per-lot third-party CoA make it the operationally efficient choice for research workflows.
View BAC Water Depot 10 mL specification · single vials from $9.99, bulk from $6.49 per vial.
When to Use Hospira
Use Hospira when the bacteriostatic water is destined for clinical drug compounding inside a DEA-registered pharmacy or hospital, where FDA-approved pharmaceutical excipients are required by regulation. Hospira is not the right channel for research-use procurement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BAC Water Depot's bacteriostatic water the same formula as Hospira?
Both products are 0.9% benzyl alcohol in sterile water — the established USP bacteriostatic water specification. The difference is regulatory channel: Hospira is FDA-approved as a pharmaceutical excipient and requires prescription dispensing; BAC Water Depot is sold under a research-use-only framework directly to research buyers.
Why does Hospira require a prescription if BAC Water Depot doesn't?
Hospira's product is classified as a finished pharmaceutical drug by the FDA, which mandates Rx dispensing. BAC Water Depot's product is sold as a research reagent under research-use-only terms and is not labeled or sold for human administration. This is the same regulatory distinction that separates clinical reagents from research-grade chemicals across the industry.
Which is cheaper — Hospira from a pharmacy or BAC Water Depot direct?
BAC Water Depot direct is typically cheaper per vial, particularly in bulk: single 10 mL vials at $9.99 and bulk pricing from $6.49 per vial. Hospira pricing through pharmacy channels varies with insurance, dispensing fees, and pharmacy markup; cash retail per-vial cost is generally higher than direct research-channel pricing.
Can I use BAC Water Depot for clinical compounding instead of Hospira?
No. Clinical drug compounding inside a licensed pharmacy or hospital requires FDA-approved pharmaceutical excipients (Hospira or equivalent). BAC Water Depot is sold for research and laboratory use only and is not labeled as a pharmaceutical excipient.
Does Hospira test every production lot like BAC Water Depot does?
Hospira manufactures under FDA cGMP regulations with internal QC including identity, sterility, and bacteriostatic effectiveness testing per lot. BAC Water Depot tests every lot through three independent third-party laboratories and issues a CoA per lot — independent third-party verification is the additional layer.
Order Direct
Research-Grade Bacteriostatic Water · From $9.99
ISO 9001:2015 USA-manufactured. Three independent labs verify every production lot. CoA available per lot.
