Saline reflects similarities to bodily fluids. Its use extends to many indications, from eye hygiene to wound cleaning. However, its effectiveness may deteriorate over time, and an expired or degraded product could have health consequences. This is why certain rules should be respected such as adequate storage, precautions during handling, and vigilance regarding the expiration date of the product.
1. What is saline and when to use it?
Saline, also called isotonic saline, is an essential and versatile solution used in medicine. This saline solution consists of distilled water and sodium chloride (salt) at a concentration of 0.9%. This isotonic characteristic makes it similar to the fluids of the human body, as specified by the National Cancer Institute. It is from this similarity that its “physiological” name comes from. It is a product that is safe for the body, and whose use can address many medical problems. Physiological serum can be used to:
2. Expired physiological serum: what are the health risks?
Physiological serum is sterile and contains no preservatives. The more time passes, the more the physiological serum can degrade and lose its effectiveness. In addition, the use of expired, damaged or already opened physiological serum could lead to skin irritations, infections, and in some cases cause allergic reactions, according to Vidal. This is why, before use, it is important to check the expiration date of the product. As the MediSafe website points out, in order to preserve the properties of physiological serum, it is crucial to store this product adequately. To do this, store the saline solution in a cool place, between 15 and 25°C. In order not to alter the quality of the physiological serum, it should also be stored away from light, for example in a closed cabinet.
If you use physiological serum in a bottle or vial, make sure the container is tightly closed after each use. Be careful not to touch the neck of the bottle with your fingers, to avoid contamination of the product. If you use physiological serum in a single-dose pipette, it is best to throw away the entire pod after one use, even if you do not use the entire contents. Indeed, if you keep an already opened dose, it could be contaminated by microbes or bacteria between two uses.
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