Hospira — a Pfizer subsidiary since 2015 — manufactures the bacteriostatic water that stocks most US hospitals, fills most pharmacy orders, and serves as the de facto reference standard for what USP-grade Bacteriostatic Water for Injection looks like. When published trial protocols, prescribing information, or pharmacy reference materials cite "bacteriostatic water," the product they reference is almost always Hospira-manufactured.
Research-context information only. Bacteriostatic water for injection is an FDA-regulated injectable product. The information below reflects USP standards, manufacturer prescribing information, published trial protocols, and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
This guide reports what makes Hospira the reference standard, where it fits in the broader bac water supply chain, and how research-grade alternatives compare for the peptide reconstitution use case.
What makes Hospira the reference standard
Hospira's position as the dominant US manufacturer of Bacteriostatic Water for Injection is not marketing — it is supply chain reality. The company's bac water meets every element of the USP monograph, and the manufacturing, distribution, and documentation infrastructure behind it is what separates pharmaceutical-grade product from everything else.
USP monograph compliance
Every Hospira bacteriostatic water vial meets the USP specification:
| Spec element | Hospira product |
|---|---|
| Base | Sterile Water for Injection, USP |
| Preservative | 0.9% (9 mg/mL) benzyl alcohol |
| Sterility | Sterile and non-pyrogenic, validated per USP <71> |
| Endotoxin | Meets USP <85> bacterial endotoxin limits |
| pH | 4.5-7.0 |
| Container | Type I borosilicate glass, multi-dose, aluminum crimp seal |
| Stopper | Pharmaceutical-grade rubber, compatible with injectable products |
| Labeling | "Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP," manufacturer, NDC, lot, expiration |
FDA-registered manufacturing
Hospira manufactures under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations at FDA-registered facilities. This means:
- Manufacturing processes are validated and documented
- Raw materials are tested and traceable
- Fill-finish operations occur in controlled cleanroom environments
- Every lot undergoes sterility testing, endotoxin testing, pH measurement, and benzyl alcohol assay
- Product is released only after quality review of all test results
- FDA inspects the facilities regularly and findings are publicly accessible
Full chain of custody
Hospira bac water moves through a documented pharmaceutical distribution chain: manufacturer to primary distributor (McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen) to pharmacy or hospital. Every handoff is documented with lot tracking. If a quality issue is identified, the entire affected lot can be traced and recalled through the distribution network.
This chain-of-custody infrastructure is the primary differentiator between pharmaceutical-grade product and marketplace-sourced alternatives. The chemistry inside the vial can be identical; the ability to verify and trace that chemistry is what pharmaceutical distribution provides.
Available sizes and NDC numbers
Hospira Bacteriostatic Water for Injection is available in the following configurations:
| Size | NDC | Format | Primary channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mL | 0409-3977-01 | Multi-dose glass vial | Pharmacy, some clinical |
| 30 mL | 0409-3977-03 | Multi-dose glass vial | Pharmacy, hospital |
| 50 mL | 0409-3977-05 | Multi-dose glass vial | Hospital, institutional |
The 30 mL vial is the most commonly available through retail pharmacy channels. The 10 mL format is less widely stocked but is available through pharmacy ordering.
NDC lookup through the FDA's DailyMed database (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov) or the NDC Directory confirms that these codes resolve to Hospira/Pfizer Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP. Community sources cite NDC verification as a primary authentication check for product claiming to be Hospira-manufactured.
Pricing landscape
Hospira bac water pricing varies significantly by channel:
| Channel | Typical price (30 mL) | Access requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacy (cash) | $20-35 | Prescription |
| Retail pharmacy (GoodRx) | $6-16 | Prescription + GoodRx coupon |
| Hospital/institutional | Below retail (GPO pricing) | Institutional purchasing agreement |
| Online pharmacy | $15-30 | Prescription, varies by state |
The GoodRx pricing represents the lowest accessible price for individual buyers with a valid prescription. Without a prescription, pharmacy-channel Hospira product is generally not available to individual purchasers.
Hospira vs. research-grade: what actually differs
The question peptide users commonly ask is whether Hospira bac water is meaningfully different from the research-grade bacteriostatic water sold by peptide vendors. The answer depends on which dimension is being compared.
What is the same
- Composition: Both are sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol. The USP monograph does not change based on who manufactures the product.
- Container: Both ship in glass multi-dose vials with aluminum crimp seals (legitimate research-grade product, not marketplace stock).
- Function: Both reconstitute peptides identically. The chemistry does not differ.
What differs
- Manufacturing documentation: Hospira has full cGMP documentation, FDA inspection history, and validated processes. Research-grade vendors operate under less regulatory oversight.
- Chain of custody: Hospira product moves through pharmaceutical distribution with full lot tracking. Research-grade product moves through vendor-direct shipping with vendor-level tracking.
- Quality verification: Hospira's quality is verified by internal pharmaceutical QA plus FDA oversight. Research-grade quality is verified by the vendor, typically with third-party COA from an independent laboratory.
- Access: Hospira requires a prescription through pharmacy channels. Research-grade does not.
- Packaging match: Hospira's primary sizes (30 mL, 50 mL) are designed for hospital and pharmacy use. Research-grade 10 mL vials are specifically sized for the peptide reconstitution 28-day window.
The practical distinction for peptide users
Community sources commonly describe the distinction in practical terms: Hospira is the gold standard for documentation and traceability, but research-grade from established peptide vendors is the product actually designed for the peptide reconstitution use case. The chemistry is the same. The packaging, access model, and documentation trail differ.
For users with an existing prescription and pharmacy access, Hospira product through a licensed pharmacy is the highest-assurance option. For users without a prescription — which describes most peptide researchers — research-grade from a vendor with lot-specific COA verification provides the same functional product without the access barrier.
Fresenius Kabi and other pharmaceutical manufacturers
Hospira is not the only pharmaceutical-grade manufacturer, though it is the dominant one in the US market. Fresenius Kabi also manufactures USP Bacteriostatic Water for Injection for hospital and pharmacy distribution. The product meets the same USP monograph — composition, sterility, packaging, and labeling are equivalent. Market share is smaller, and retail pharmacy availability is less consistent.
For a detailed comparison of Hospira, Fresenius Kabi, and research-grade vendor options, the brands compared guide covers each source in depth.
Bottom line
Hospira (Pfizer) Bacteriostatic Water for Injection is the US reference standard for USP-grade bac water — cGMP manufactured, FDA-registered, full pharmaceutical chain of custody, lot-traceable through the distribution network. Pricing runs $6-16 via GoodRx with a prescription, $20-35 at cash price. The product is chemically identical to USP-compliant research-grade bac water from peptide vendors. The difference is documentation depth and access model: Hospira requires a prescription and provides pharmaceutical-grade traceability; research-grade provides the same functional product with vendor-level COA verification and no prescription requirement.
Related reading
- Where to Buy Bacteriostatic Water (Pharma Grade) — the three buyer paths and how Hospira fits in
- Bacteriostatic Water Brands Compared — Hospira, Fresenius Kabi, and vendor-channel sources side by side
- Why COA Matters for Bacteriostatic Water — how Certificates of Analysis verify what is inside the vial
- How to Spot Fake Bacteriostatic Water (Red Flags) — NDC lookup, crimp seal inspection, and the six quality checks
- Bac Water at Walgreens, CVS & Walmart — pharmacy-channel availability and pricing
This guide is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Bacteriostatic water for injection is a regulated injectable product subject to FDA labeling standards. As an affiliate partner, The Peptide Catalog may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to the reader. Bacteriostatic water is sold for research and professional use only.