Water permeation through polyvinyl chloride bags without overwrap

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science
• Packaging Technology

Background:

• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) intravenous (IV) containers are widely used for fluid administration.
• Water permeation from IV bags can lead to volume loss and affect drug concentration.
• The need for overwrap for PVC IV containers is often debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify water loss by permeation from PVC IV containers (Viaflex) without overwrap.
• To evaluate the impact of storage temperature and container size on water loss.
• To determine the suitability of these containers for extended storage periods.

Main Methods:

• Viaflex bags (50-1000 ml) with 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose were stored at various temperatures (room, refrigerated, frozen).
• Container weights were measured over 84 days to calculate water loss.
• Weight loss kinetics were analyzed, and time to 10% weight loss was predicted.

Main Results:

• At room temperature, 50-ml bags lost >10% weight; 100-ml bags lost 9%; larger bags lost <5% over 84 days.
• Colder storage conditions (refrigeration/freezing) resulted in <5% average weight loss for all sizes.
• Weight loss followed zero-order kinetics, with rates varying by size and temperature.

Conclusions:

• PVC IV containers without overwrap are suitable for refrigerated or frozen storage up to 84 days with minimal water loss.
• Room temperature storage, especially for smaller volumes, can lead to substantial water loss.
• Overwrap may be necessary for room temperature storage of smaller volume PVC IV containers.