Physiological serum gently cleanses the mucous membranes, eyes and nose. Whether packaged in the form of pods or in a bottle, physiological serum does not contain preservatives and therefore does not keep after opening.
1. What is physiological serum?
Physiological serum is a solution containing distilled and purified water and sodium chloride. Physiological serum has the particularity of being isotonic compared to plasma, that is to say that its electrolyte composition is the same as that of plasma. Physiological serum can thus be used safely and without risk of allergy in adults, but also in children and infants. The physiological serum can be in the form of a bottle, single-dose pods, or can also be in the form of bags or injectable bottles.
2. What is physiological serum used for?
Physiological serum can be used in many situations. It has a very important place in infant hygiene, for example. Physiological serum allows you to gently clean your baby’s face. It can also be used to wash the nose, especially in winter to avoid infection in the bronchi or reduce nasal congestion. The High Authority for Health (HAS) also recommends using pods of physiological serum to prevent bronchiolitis. Physiological serum can also be used in adults to wash the nose. It can also help relieve minor eye irritations. Physiological serum can also be used to clean small wounds. In injectable form, physiological serum allows you to rehydrate a person who is severely dehydrated or in the event of sodium depletion.
3. How to store physiological serum?
Physiological serum should be handled with clean hands. It is very important to use it after washing your hands thoroughly with soap. If a bottle of physiological serum or a dose is opened or the solution is cloudy or has an odor, it should not be used. Physiological serum should be stored at room temperature.
The Mercurochrome laboratory specifies on its site that single doses should only be reserved for one use and that they should be thrown away immediately after being used, even if there is a little physiological serum remaining. Bottles with a resealable cap can be kept for a few days, but should be used as quickly as possible. Regarding injectable solutions, the instructions for use posted online on the website of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health specify that unopened bags can be stored for 15 months to 3 years. Opened solutions cannot be stored (they will no longer be sterile) and must be used immediately.
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