How long can you store injectable solution drawn in a syringe?

[dnBQByvHb8Zkawbjpx]

Low doses (<100 mg) are notoriously difficult to weigh with precision unless some very-high-precision scales are used. For example, to prepare ketamine for IM, it may be better to prepare a batch of five shots by dissolving 500 mg K in 5 ml of saline solution, instead of weighing 100 mg for one shot (which could be 150 mg due to scale error).

Consider a guaranteed sterile solution prepared by cooking K in saline. The solution is then drawn into sterile syringes using new sterile needles or 0.22 um syringe filters. The needle on each syringe is then swapped for a brand new one. How long can you store such prepared shot safely, presumably in the fridge at 4-5 °C? The aspect of the stability of K does not concern me as there are studies that did not show any degradation of K stored in syringes. I am concerned about the micro-bacterial safety of the stored shots after a week or max two weeks. Would they be safe to use?

 

[Paracelsus]

While the chemical stability of ketamine in solution is well-established, the primary issue is the potential for bacterial contamination over time, especially when storing the prepared syringes in a refrigerator.

Sterility Considerations:

1. Sterile Preparation: Using 0.22 µm syringe filters significantly reduces the risk of bacterial contamination, as they are designed to remove most bacteria. However, some viruses and smaller particles, including spores, may not be fully filtered, though this is a relatively low risk.
2. Sterile Storage: Once the solution is prepared and syringes are filled, replacing the needle with a new sterile one helps maintain sterility. Ensuring that the syringes and needles used are individually sterile and handled in a clean environment further minimizes risks.
3. Refrigeration: Storing the prepared syringes in the fridge (at 4-5°C) slows bacterial growth but does not completely stop it. Refrigeration is effective in prolonging the sterility of injectable solutions for a limited period, as most bacteria and fungi grow more slowly at lower temperatures. However, it’s not foolproof against contamination, especially over extended periods.

Microbial Safety of Stored Shots:

1. First Week: If the solution is prepared under optimal sterile conditions and stored in the refrigerator, it is generally considered safe to use for up to one week. This is within the window where bacterial contamination risk remains low, assuming no breaches in sterility during preparation or storage.
2. Second Week: Extending storage to two weeks raises the risk of bacterial contamination. Although refrigeration and the use of sterile equipment mitigate this, some opportunistic organisms can still multiply slowly in refrigerated conditions. The risk is higher after the first week, so beyond that, the safety of the solution becomes more questionable.

Continue to use sterile equipment (syringes, needles, saline, and filters) and maintain clean working conditions during preparation. Label each syringe with the preparation date to ensure safe use within the recommended timeframe.

 

[dnBQByvHb8Zkawbjpx]

Thank you for the detailed comment. I have been thinking along the same lines: filtering does not remove viruses (too small) which is why I opt for sterilization by heat at 99 °C as the primary method that sterilizes the solution.

I plan to prepare batches of no more than five shots at a time; one of them would be consumed immediately and up to four would be stored. The last of them would be used around the start of the 2nd week and I'm glad to hear my plan is not outrageously stupid and/or dangerous.

I did not have labeling each syringe in my protocol and I'll definitely do that, thank you for pointing this out.

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

I used to do something similar. I would prep a bunch of shots and leave them in a sunglasses case. If you are worried about bacterial growth, perhaps you can just cook it and heat the needle tip right before use?

There was another benefit, I don't know if it applies in EU or where else. In the USA though, if you get caught with a syringe loaded with drugs, they cannot charge you with possession. Some people used to load up all their stuff and carry it around like that.

 

[dnBQByvHb8Zkawbjpx]

We are not on the same page. See this picture how needles are packed. They are individually packed in a sterile pouch, and each needle is under a protective plastic cover so it can't hurt anyone before the actual administration. Unpacked and immediately put on a new syringe I am not concerned about the bacterial safety here. Heating needles would do more harm than good and is absolutely unnecessary.

My only concern is about the drug itself since you never know what hands touched it and how it's contaminated. Syringes, needles, saline, these are all sterile.

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

Yes, obviously, my friend. I don't expect you are talking about discount syringes from an open box at the thrift shop. You have to open it and expose it to contamination in order to get the substance into it, though, yes?
Just boil the ketamine solution and load them up. It isn't just the product but the handling and procedure and everything. If a spore syringe can survive, this should have better odds.
The drug itself is probably antiseptic also in high concentration, all the germs would OD

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

99c isn't hot enough to sterilize. It barely sanatizes. Normally one would call that an ultra-pasteurization, thich is the worst place to be because tou've killed any actinomycetes or helpful bacteria that could have protected your whatever, but you didn't get it hot enough to kill thermophiles are endospores. When you don't have labratoy equipment, working between vials with injection ports and syringes is the most sanatar method by about 100 light years. Remember, if you want to keep your vials sanatary, flame is the most effective antiseptic in the world. A split second at 1000 degrees kills basically everything . Flame thos syringe needles before you stick them in the ports
>100mg is a low dose? Half that is more than I take at a time.
You'll be hard pressed to gind a fungal basidiospore or ascospore smaller than 0.22. You won't. They usually start at 20x that size. Bacteria is by and large much bigger even. Viruses, now you ain't going to filter a virus out.
One thing to consider if you are going this route is spring water, ro filtered water, drinking water, they all contain bacteria. Reverse osmosis doesn't remove bacteria. Distilled water is the only way to go. Some bacteria can survive on the trace elements in spring water. One more thing. As a pormer lab tech, the #1 source of contamination is you. Clean out from under your fingernails. Cut them short. Wear gloves. Wear a mask to at least diffuse the bacteria spewing from your mouth. Be aware of your mouth. Keep it closeed, it might as well be a toilet,.

 

[dnBQByvHb8Zkawbjpx]

All used injection material is purchased through pharmacies, packed individually and sterile, relying on reputable brands (BD, Terumo). There is no need to sterilize any such material. Needles are under a plastic cover even after they are removed from their pouch and it would be silly to sterilize them with fire.

I use sterile physiological solution (0.9 % NaCl in H2O, sterile, packed 5 ml per vial) so the only non-sterile substance in the whole process is the drug itself, ketamine in my case. I thought I could bake it to sterilize, then load portions into syringes and refrigerate them until use (no more than 2 weeks). Or I could dissolve K in the solution and boil for a bit to kill any pathogens, then load into syringes. Or I could simply not bother and hope that it has not been contaminated too much and let my immune system handle whatever may get through.

You make good points about protective equipment to limit self-contamination during the process. I will keep those in mind. Coincidentally the original post and the answers are only becoming relevant to me in present time and just in time. Sometimes I like to plan ahead as was the case of this post made 8 months ago.

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

When I first started experimenting with syringes it was IM ketamine from liquid vials from the veterinarian. I've shot all types of shit off the street since then, sometimes without much care. It's been about 20 years and the worst thing that has happened was my hand/wrist inflammed badly one time with an infection. I was shooting meth and I was out on the street for about a week.. fun times. That was arguably just my own lack of hygiene or circumstances at the time. Some antibiotics and it went away. I have been pretty careless and reckless towards myself, by my own and definitely by most peoples standards, and am probably more lucky than anything, It all just kinda common sense, you know? That is just to provide an example of what you can get away with, I guess. It is not something to fool around with, but it is not so delicate either. I think you have enough sense.

Anyway, if you do everything proper when prepping them and store them in the fridge like you mention, I would think you would be able to keep them for a while.... months... longer even, without any problem. What about if you added some vinegar or something consumable with antibiotic properties to that end, to keep growth at bay? With all the above prep you mention, with added antibacterial and reheating it before use, I don't see it ever being an issue.

 

[dnBQByvHb8Zkawbjpx]

I am not going to contaminate intramuscular injectables with vinegar or any other home grown bacterial retardant. Working towards the sterility of the shot is much easier for me and does not add any undesired substances.

 

[mycelium]

In prison we used vinegar, stores in a non sterile medicine bottle, to draw vinegar into an old syringe, and squirt into crack, so we could break it down and shoot it.
Just sayin.
I have sharpened a syringe with matchbooks and 2 pennies to remove any burrs.
Little bleach to clean everything before and after...
Good thing I'm not stupid anymore

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

I mean, if it is that complicated, just cook your shots as needed like everyone else. Or don't.
Whatever you wanna do. It is great to be cautious and everything, but you are over thinking it a bit. We are just suggesting ideas and giving examples, noone is telling you to mainline old pickle juice.
Seems like communicating with understanding is too much work with some folks.

If I have to go back and review parts of my life it will be rather embarrassing at times, for sure. I can't even wrap my mind around that one, though, shooting crack in jail? By itself? That's probably one of the last things I would ever want to do.

Unrelated topic, I apologize, but what about using these syringe filters to make spore syringes?

 

[mycelium]

The syring filters are specifically designed to not let spores pass, as almost no spores pass below the .2 micron size of the filter.

And someone else wanted to shoot coke, but there was none available, so he got crack and I showed him how to break it down...and I got half....
And then he went back and got more....
Personally I would have rather him spent the money on an oz of weed, or even pharmaceuticals, but he likes shooting coca...at the time, I would not turn down free drugs

 

[mycelium]

And I didn't say it was old pickle juice I said it was vinegar, which is dilute acetic acid, which is just backwards from making crack, it's a base to acid reaction.
And I was saying that bleach kills bacteria/viruses, and if it will kill aids, then it's sure to kill refrigerator bacteria(maybe lactobacillus/bacillus/pseudomona(spelling)....

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

I know buddy, I didn't mean you. The first paragraph was for the thread author, I should have specificied, but I thought I was being a little redundant, my apologies.

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

Ketamine hcl melts at a lower temp. rthan even crack, 93c or something, has a ph of about 5.5 in an injectable solution.....I don't think heat sterilization is going to work and the ph isn't enough to hamper bacteria. Most of the time, what happens is, the thing that happens most often, nothing ever happens. If someone asked me and were immunocomprimised or otherwise paranoid, there is at least 1 good solution. 0.022 um syringe filter. About a buck and can be reused and it;ll fix you right up for anything but virus or mycoplasma

 

[mycelium]

And when they make syringes and other medical things, they don't use an autoclave , they use UV-C light, and gamma radiation...I found a hundred dollar UV-C wand on scamazon, and couldn't find a gamma device, for sterilizing mushroom stuff, but I got sidetracked and looked for something else

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

Right UV is an obvious choice. It doesn't penetrate a substrate butl liquids especially, are easily sterilized. I once upon a time worked for a city ( A ccouple , at different times) and amoung other things, cleaning the uv lights in the effluent chute was part of the job. The sewage came into a pond with several aerators, the solids sunk to the bortom and the sewage was skimmed off the top and passed under uv lights and into the river ir went.