Solutions & lubricants
Sterile solutions and lubricants for clinical care, wound care and home care: sodium chloride 0.9% (normal saline) in ampoules, sachets and bottles, sterile water for irrigation, injection and humidifiers, wound and catheter irrigation solutions including Prontosan and Uro-Tainer, and sterile lubricating gel. Brands include Baxter, B. Braun, Pfizer and OptiLube.
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Choosing the right solution
| Solution | Typical uses | At MEC |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium chloride 0.9% for irrigation | Cleaning and irrigating wounds, and rinsing during procedures. Not for injection. | 30 mL sachets (box 75), Baxter 500 mL, 1000 mL |
| Sodium chloride 0.9% ampoules and bottles | Clinical use as directed by a health professional, such as diluting or flushing. B. Braun ampoules can also be used for nebulising. | Pfizer 5 mL ampoules, B. Braun 10 mL ampoules, 100 mL bottle |
| Sterile water for irrigation | Irrigation, rinsing and heated humidifiers such as myAirvo. Not for injection. | Baxter 500 mL, 2 L bag, various sizes |
| Water for injection | Clinical use as directed by a health professional. | B. Braun 10 mL ampoules |
| Wound irrigation solution | Cleansing and rinsing acute, chronic and burn wounds. | Prontosan 350 mL, 1000 mL |
| Catheter maintenance solution | Closed-system rinsing of indwelling urinary catheters, on a health professional's recommendation. | Uro-Tainer Twin Suby G |
| Lubricating gel | Sterile, water-soluble gel for procedures such as catheterisation, and personal lubricant. | OptiLube sterile gel, KY Jelly |
Solutions are single use once opened unless the label says otherwise — discard any unused solution and don't use a product past its expiry date. For CPAP humidifiers, see Refresh water bottles.
Important: solutions labelled "for irrigation" must never be injected. Use injectable solutions only as directed by a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
FAQs
What is normal saline?
Normal saline is sodium chloride 0.9% in sterile water — about the same salt concentration as the body's fluids. It comes in different forms for different uses, so check whether a product is for irrigation or for injection before using it.
Can I use tap water or bottled water in a humidifier?
Follow the device manufacturer's instructions. Heated high-flow humidifiers such as myAirvo use sterile water, and bags are available to fit the auto-fill chamber — see humidification.
Ordering solutions by the carton for a ward, clinic or facility? Contact our team for volume pricing.