Sterile diluent
Bacteriostatic Sodium Chloride℞
0.9% Injection, USP
Bacteriostatic saline is a sterile sodium chloride solution used to dissolve or dilute compatible injectable medicines. Hospira’s 30 mL multi-dose vial contains 0.9% sodium chloride and 0.9% benzyl alcohol, a preservative that helps limit bacterial growth.
- 0.9% sodium chloride
- Multi-dose vial
- Prescription only
Hospira / Pfizer
Multiple-dose plastic vial
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About this diluent
Saline and preservative: two distinct roles.
Bacteriostatic saline combines sodium chloride with a preservative in water for injection. Understanding those two ingredients explains what separates this multi-dose diluent from preservative-free saline.
What the 0.9% means
The sodium chloride concentration is 0.9%: each milliliter contains 9 mg of sodium chloride. Hospira describes the solution as isotonic. Its purpose is to dissolve or dilute compatible injectable medicines according to the medicine manufacturer’s instructions.
The medicine determines whether a saline diluent is appropriate. A matching concentration alone does not make different diluents interchangeable. [2]
A separate ingredient limits bacterial growth
This formulation also contains benzyl alcohol at 0.9%, or 9 mg/mL. That second percentage identifies the preservative; it is separate from the sodium chloride concentration. The preservative helps limit bacterial growth, but it does not protect against viruses or prevent all contamination. Careful aseptic handling remains essential.
Benzyl alcohol also creates specific restrictions. The manufacturer states that this product must not be used in newborns and is not for fluid or sodium chloride replacement. The full safety information appears below. [2] [3] [4]
What the 30 mL multi-dose format means
The pictured plastic Fliptop vial contains 30 mL and permits repeated withdrawals. Pfizer identifies a manufacturer pack of 25 vials; that pack count and the amount within each vial describe different things.
Repeated access still has a time limit. CDC advises dating an opened multi-dose vial and discarding it within 28 days unless its manufacturer specifies another period, never beyond the original expiration date. The prepared medicine has its own stability requirements; the opened diluent’s time limit does not establish how long a mixture can be kept. [1] [2] [3]
Product details & packaging
How it works
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Pharmacy fulfillment and delivery after the required clinical and prescription checks, subject to eligibility and availability.
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Important information
- Not for newborns. Benzyl alcohol makes this product unsuitable for neonates.
- Not for fluid replacement or epidural/spinal anesthesia. The label excludes fluid or sodium chloride replacement and epidural or spinal anesthesia.
- Not for inhalation. This is a medication diluent, not an inhalation solution.
The prescribed medicine must be compatible with both the saline vehicle and its preservative. Your clinician or pharmacist can confirm that choice. [2]
Read the full prescribing information (opens a new tab)