Reconstitution · 4 min read
Reconstitution Basics: Water, Syringes & Math
Reconstitution is simply dissolving a lyophilized powder into a liquid so it can be measured. This is laboratory arithmetic and handling information for laboratory use.
What you reconstitute with
Bacteriostatic water is the diluent commonly used for reconstitution; the small amount of benzyl alcohol it contains inhibits microbial growth over a storage window. Sterile water or saline is used where a preservative-free diluent is needed.
Add the water slowly down the side of the vial — not jetted directly onto the contents.
The concentration arithmetic
Concentration is just mass divided by volume: a 5 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of water is 2.5 mg/mL. To draw a target mass, divide it by the concentration to get the volume; on a U-100 syringe, multiply that volume in mL by 100 to read it in units.
Keep bacteriostatic water and the right syringes on hand — both are in the catalog.
Supplies and technique
A typical setup is the vial, bacteriostatic water, and the right syringe. We stock bacteriostatic & sterile water, saline, syringes, and draw-up needles across the catalog.
Keep everything sterile, work without rushing, and record what you mixed and when.
For laboratory use. Information for handling — not medical, dosing, or administration guidance.