Can saline solution be stored after opening?

Definition and composition

The basis of the liquid is sodium chloride - the sodium salt of hydrochloric acid, also known as table or sea salt. The product is created after dissolving 9 g of sodium chloride in 1 liter of water. For home use, the solution can be prepared independently, but the treatment uses a pharmaceutical drug. It is created using special technology. Thanks to purification from harmful impurities, it can be used for injections and other medical procedures that require sterility.

The properties of the product are similar to substances that exist in the cellular space. Therefore, saline solution is used to quickly replenish elements, the lack of which appears due to dehydration, poisoning, inflammation and infections. Saline solution temporarily increases the volume of fluid in the body, which restores important internal processes. In order for the drug to fulfill its properties, you should know how long the opened saline solution is stored and observe the shelf life.

What is saline solution used for?

The main active ingredient of saline solution is sodium chloride, which helps maintain normal pressure in the blood plasma and extracellular fluid. It enters the body along with food consumption and that is enough. But with diarrhea, vomiting and other pathological conditions, its intensive release occurs. And this is dangerous for human health, since the blood thickens, and therefore convulsions and muscle spasms, disturbances in the functioning of the nervous and circulatory systems can develop. Therefore, when saline is administered, the lack of fluid in the body is completely replenished and the water-salt balance is restored for a certain period of time.

Interesting: How Long Do Boiled Beets Keep in the Refrigerator

The drug is used for:

• IV fluids for excessive dehydration
• Dissolution of drugs for intramuscular injections
• Removing toxic substances
• Rarely as a blood substitute during surgery
• Enema for insufficient bowel movements
• Cleaning the wound from harmful microorganisms during surgery, wetting dressings
• Eye washes for inflammation and allergic manifestations
• Washing contact lenses
• Nasal rinsing for acute respiratory infections, etc.
• Liquefaction and removal of sputum for inhalation of the respiratory tract

As can be seen from the above list, saline solution should be in all home first aid kits. But what are the conditions for its storage and how long is it good for after opening the container?

Where is it used?

Sodium chloride solution is used for:

• detoxification;
• dilution of drugs;
• operations;
• treatment of colds;
• improving bowel movements;
• cleansing and disinfecting wounds and purulent surfaces;
• washing eyes, nose;
• cleansing, softening, moisturizing tissues.

The solution must be used for its intended purpose. The pharmacy chain sells many drugs from different manufacturers that can be used for inhalation, infusion and rinsing. But it is still preferable for the patient to consult a doctor before purchasing. It is important to find out in advance which solution is most suitable and how to maintain sterility. After purchase, you must follow storage rules and monitor expiration dates. How long open saline solution is stored is indicated in the instructions.

Duration of storage of saline solution after opening

Saline solution, like iodine, are one of the most popular drugs in medicine. Saline solution is often in demand during inhalations, as it is the best solvent for medications. Saline solution is a chemical compound called sodium chloride. The main condition for using saline solution is its sterility. We will find out how long saline solution for inhalation should be stored after opening it.

Interesting: At what temperature to store potatoes in winter

Storage

Although the scope of application of saline solution is wide, it is more often used in injections and infusions. They cleanse the body and restore normal processes. During detoxification therapy, the solution is administered orally, so strict requirements are imposed on the medication. How long does opened saline solution last? After uncorking the container, the product can be used within 12-24 hours.

However, there are some nuances. How long does saline solution last when opened if only the cap is removed? In this case, the shelf life will be shorter, since particles of dust, dirt, and toxic components penetrate into the open container. How long does opened saline solution last in a bottle? The period is 12-24 hours.

How long does open saline solution in plastic ampoules last if the product is used for infusion? It should be used within 12 hours after opening. It is important that the medication is stored in a cool place.

How long does opened saline solution last in the refrigerator if the lid is removed but the medicine is not used? In this case, the drug loses its sterility and cannot be used for intravenous infusion.

Saline solution and its features

An isotonic solution is a medicine that consists of water and table salt. Sodium chloride helps maintain normal blood pressure, so it is often used for injection as a dropper. Through the inhalation of saline, it is possible to deliver the substance to areas of the mucous membranes that are currently affected by viruses and infections.

Interesting: How to Store Fried Mushrooms in the Refrigerator

Important! The use of saline solution in the form of inhalation or nasal drops allows you to quickly moisten the airways, thereby improving the patient’s condition.

At the same time, the nasopharynx is cleared of excess secretions, and swelling and inflammatory processes are relieved. Sodium chloride is used for the following purposes:

• An intravenous infusion is given if a person shows signs of excessive dehydration.
• Medicines for intramuscular injections are dissolved.
• For cleaning contact lenses for eyes.
• Nasal rinsing for respiratory diseases.
• Liquefaction and removal of mucus from the respiratory tract.
• For inhalations, where sodium chloride can be both the main substance and an auxiliary.
• For cleansing wounds of various types.

Saline solution is not only one of the most important drugs in medicine, but also at home. If in clinics nurses monitor medications, then when using saline solution at home, few people think about what its shelf life is after opening.

For inhalations

Saline solution for inhalation is a popular and safe medicine that is suitable for treating children and pregnant women. The drug is used both independently and with other medications. A nebulizer is usually used for nebulization. The product is not used in steam inhalers.

A nebulizer sprays medications into tiny particles that penetrate the respiratory organs. Therefore, only a sterile solution should be used, otherwise infection or foreign particles will penetrate with the medicine, which will lead to new complications. How long does open saline solution for inhalation last? It can only be used after opening so that it is sterile. If you don’t want to throw away an empty bottle every time, then it’s better to buy the product in ampoules and draw up the saline solution using a sterile syringe. This way you can significantly extend the shelf life of the drug.

The volume of the drug that will be used should also be taken into account. If you need a little for 1 procedure, then it is better to buy the drug in ampoules. When using a nasal rinse, sterility is not necessary. But it is better to draw the product with a syringe and close the hole with a sterile cotton ball.

If the nose is washed with a “homemade” saline solution, then it must be taken into account that it is better to prepare it before the procedure. And if you diluted a large volume, then you should use it no more than one day.

Application of saline solution

The main active ingredient of the solution is sodium chloride, which maintains optimal pressure in the plasma and extracellular fluid. The product enters the human body with food (this is usually sufficient for normal functioning). However, with vomiting, diarrhea or other dehydration, the substance is actively eliminated. This poses a danger to human health, since the blood begins to thicken and muscle cramps or spasms may begin, which will lead to disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system. The introduction of saline solution allows you to quickly replenish lost fluid in the body and restore water-salt balance.

In medicine, the drug is prescribed in the following cases:

• with severe dehydration;

• for rapid dissolution of drugs administered intramuscularly;
• removal of toxins;
• as an enema for weak bowel movements;
• for disinfecting wounds during surgery;
• for washing eyes and contact lenses;
• for inhalations.

Most often, the drug is administered to the patient intravenously using droppers, and in case of large fluid loss or severe intoxication - in large quantities. You don’t even need to focus on the fact that the solution must be sterile - this goes without saying.

According to SanPiN, a bottle of saline solution can be stored for up to 24 hours from the moment of opening. However, the bottle can also be opened in different ways. If you remove the aluminum protective coating, the shelf life of such a bottle will be 24 hours in the refrigerator. But if the rubber stopper is removed, the solution can be stored for no more than 12 hours, since upon contact with air, various bacteria enter the solution.

If you use saline solution for inhalation, the shelf life of the drug will be slightly different. As a rule, inhalations based on sodium chloride are very effective. According to the instructions, many drugs for the common cold must be diluted with this solution (usually mucolytics are diluted this way). Also for inhalation, saline solution is used undiluted. It actively moisturizes the mucous membrane. Such procedures are carried out every 4-5 hours, using 3-4 ml of solution. Such inhalations are allowed even for pregnant women and children.

Interesting: How long to store fresh tomatoes

To rinse your nose, the solution does not have to be sterile. However, in order not to expose yourself to danger, the solution can be drawn up with a syringe by piercing the rubber stopper. The bottle should be used for rinsing in this way for a week.

If the bottle has been opened, you can resort to the following storage method:

• stick cotton wool soaked in alcohol into the neck of the bottle;
• Close the bottle with a rubber stopper.

It is important to store it in the refrigerator after opening the bottle.

The shelf life of unopened bottles depends on their packaging. Saline solution can be produced in a 50 ml jar and can be stored for 1.5 years; 100 ml bottles can be stored for up to 2 years, and more than 250 ml – 3 years from the date of their production. In this case, the temperature in the room where the medical product is stored should not exceed 24 degrees.

Storage rules

It is advisable to store the unopened drug at a temperature of no more than 25 degrees. The expiration date is usually recorded on the packaging. Depending on the manufacturer, it can be 2-3 years.

If a product from the Spanish company Bieffe Medital is used, the shelf life is different. It all depends on the volume:

• 50 ml – 1.5 years;
• 100 – 2 years;
• 200 – 3 years;
• 500 ml and 1 l – 3 years.

How long can saline solution be stored after opening?

How long can saline solution be stored after opening?

• I keep an opened ampoule of saline solution, that is, sodium chloride, for inhalation throughout the day.

  But the opened ampoule is always covered with medical cotton wool soaked in salicylic alcohol, boric alcohol.

  I always buy 5 ml saline solution - they are more convenient in terms of consumption and in terms of quot;breaking offquot;.

  The pediatrician did not advise buying large bottles of saline solution.

• Saline solution - that’s why it’s called that, because it’s a physiological solution of salts. If necessary, it will replace blood plasma. It is with this that various medications are mixed and injected into a vein. Usually these are bottles of 200-400 ml, which are not opened, but pierced with sterile needles. It has no expiration date. It can be stored indefinitely - if we are talking about inhalations, rinsing the nose - microbes do not live in saline solution. If this saline solution is used for intravenous administration, then it is usually used once, and the remainder is thrown away.

  special instructions

• Saline solution is a solution of salts. Accordingly, when opening the bottle (package), its components will not change. Only the number of bacteria will change. That is, the solution will no longer be sterile. When used intravenously or intramuscularly, such a solution cannot be stored!
• After opening, the saline solution can be stored for a maximum of 24 hours - this applies to those solutions that were opened, used and hermetically sealed again. The ampoules cannot be stored and even for five hours - that is their expiration date - they cannot be used immediately after opening. This applies to medicinal saline solutions. For example, simple saline solutions with medicinal plants for colds can be used, and the rest can be tightly closed again and stored for a day in a cool place or used in the refrigerator.
• It is best to buy ampoules of 5 ml. After use, throw away immediately if you have any left.

  Saline solution cannot be stored for long. If you open the jar, then there is no talk of any sterility!

• If saline solution is used for inhalation, then after opening its shelf life is not limited. Since sterility is not required for inhalation. If you do not have ampoules/nebulas, but a large bottle of 200 or 400 ml. do not open it, but simply pierce the cap with a needle, it will be stored for as long as it is written on the bottle itself. That is, as long as a sealed solution could be stored, but this is only for inhalation; if the drug is used for intravenous or intramuscular administration, then there is no question of storing the drug; they opened it, used it, and threw away the remains. Do not store leftover medication.
• According to SanPin, any sterile solution can be stored open for 12 hours to 24 hours. True, the concept of quot; openquot; miscellaneous: you can only remove the cap from the bottle - and then you can store it for a day without problems. Or you can open it completely, that is, remove the rubber stopper from the bottle or open the ampoule. In this case, the injection solution cannot be stored even for 12 hours. If it is not for intravenous administration, then it can also be stored for 24 hours, BUT - plug the ampoule with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol, or close the bottle with a rubber stopper, and put a cotton swab with alcohol on top.

  For inhalation, the saline solution may not be sterile, but it’s better – to be safe – to store it exactly as I described. And, by the way, for inhalation, saline solution can be stored like this for three days. And, of course, do not forget about the storage conditions - they are written on the bottle. If you have ampoules with saline solution, then plug the ampoule with cotton wool and alcohol and place it in the refrigerator on the shelf (not in the freezer!). You can also store it for three days. Health and good luck!

• At all . It is better to buy saline solution in ampoules; one ampoule of 5 or 10 ml is enough for inhalation. And the solution will always be sterile. If you have already bought it in a bottle, then the bottle should not be opened; just pierce the stopper with a sterile syringe needle and use the syringe to extract the required amount of solution. An unopened bottle can be stored in the refrigerator for some time, but no more than a month. If the bottle is opened, then after 2-3 days bacterial contamination of the solution occurs; it can still be used for inhalation, but only until the end of the treatment period, then it must be thrown away. It cannot be stored.
• Saline solution for inhalation can be stored for a long time in the refrigerator, but the more often you open the bottle, the more bacteria will get into the medicine and you will not get the healing properties. Therefore, if you open the bottle, you can take the medicine from there five times, and then throw away the rest. There is little benefit from it, and the risk that harmful bacteria will penetrate there is high.
• If you do not open the saline solution, but only pierce it with a sterile needle and draw it into a syringe, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

  If you have opened a bottle of saline solution, you should store it in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.

  And if you prepare saline solution yourself, you can store it for no more than a day.

info-4all.ru

Maintaining tightness

If the bottle of saline solution is large (200 or 400 ml), then you should extract as much as is required for the procedure using a syringe. By inserting the needle into the lid of the container, you need to draw as much product as is needed for the nebulizer. The tightness will not be compromised. And the shelf life of the remaining medication placed in the refrigerator will not be in doubt the next time it is used.

This rule applies only to the use of saline solution for inhalation. If you use the product for injection, any remaining medication should be thrown away immediately. Otherwise there will be no benefit.

Although this medicine belongs to the group of medicines of natural origin, you should carefully approach the issue of its safety. You should not place bottles and ampoules with the product in the freezer, or reuse the drug, even if there is a sufficient amount of it in the nebulizer. Instructions for use and storage of the solution must be followed. Only then does it provide the desired effect and accelerate recovery.

The saline solution has a broad effect. It can be used for a variety of diseases. But if you want the medicine to work, you need to follow the instructions for use of the drug and not store it for too long.

How long can opened saline solution for inhalation be stored?

Saline solution is one of the commonly used medications used during inhalation.

The procedures are carried out for diseases of the nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract and are a recognized medicinal method that can significantly speed up recovery.

Characteristics of the drug

Saline solution is a dosage form consisting of a mixture of water and table salt. A product is prepared with a certain concentration, in accordance with pharmacological standards. Carrying out an inhalation procedure makes it possible to spray the solution and deliver it directly to those areas of the mucous membrane that are affected by infection or virus.

At the same time, the patient’s condition improves - the nasopharynx is cleared of excess secretions, inflammation and swelling are relieved.

For bronchitis

If inhalations are indicated for bronchitis, saline solution helps to quickly and effectively liquefy mucus and remove it from problem organs. Like any other medication, saline solution is used in treatment only as prescribed by a specialist. In addition, for inhalations, some doctors recommend adding medicinal herbs or essential oils to it.

From the pharmacy

Saline solution is sold in the public domain, without a prescription. The cost of the drug is affordable. The product is prepared in the relevant pharmaceutical laboratories, taking into account the norms and requirements for medications of this group and is released for use for various purposes. Saline solution is often used not only for inhalation, but also for intravenous and intramuscular injections when the body is dehydrated.

How to cook it yourself

You can prepare a saline solution at home, but you must remember that this product is stored in the refrigerator in a glass container. The concentration of the solution is maintained based on the ratio - take 1 tablespoon of table salt per liter of warm boiled water. The mixture is thoroughly stirred and filtered before use. The shelf life of homemade saline solution should not exceed 24 hours, but you need to remember that no matter what conditions you prepare the product, it will not be sterile.

The doctor must determine how much solution is needed. He also prescribes a treatment regimen, which depends on the nature and nature of the disease, the degree of its development, what goals are being pursued (relieving inflammatory processes, eliminating swelling, dilating the bronchi for free breathing). In addition, the frequency of use and amount of saline solution depends on the age of the patient.

How to use and store

Doctors today recommend carrying out inhalation procedures only using special devices - nebulizers. The device ensures that the drug is split into particles of the required size and aerated directly into the infected areas of the mucous membrane.

Whether you buy a solution at a pharmacy or prepare it yourself, before filling it into the nebulizer, it must be warmed to room temperature. Steam inhalers are also used for procedures. They are good in cases where the upper respiratory tract is being treated and targeted drug delivery is not required.

In ampoules

For inhalation, it is better to buy the drug in small glass bottles or ampoules. Ampoules of 5 or 10 ml are ideal for the procedure. Considering the short shelf life after opening, purchase as many ampoules at once as you need for the full course of treatment. If the solution is in a container with a tight-fitting lid, the remaining product after the procedure can be stored in the refrigerator for another day. If the ampoule is broken and it is not possible to seal it tightly after opening, the product can be stored for 10-12 hours. After this, saline solution will not only do no good, but may also cause harm.

Storage

You can often hear that for inhalations the expiration date of a saline solution does not matter, and even an opened solution can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days and then used. This is argued by the fact that saline solution is not used for injections, and simply plugging a broken ampoule with cotton wool soaked in alcohol can preserve the drug. This is not entirely true. The solution is stored exactly as long as written in the instructions for use.

Research has proven that such widespread use of this drug is due to the fact that germs and infections do not live in it. However, the fresh drug acts more quickly on the inflamed problem areas of the mucous membrane, being absorbed and immediately giving an effective result.

Maintaining tightness

If you have a large bottle of saline solution (200 or 400 ml) at home, you can extract as much as necessary for the procedure using a syringe. By inserting a needle into the rubber cap of the container, remove as much solution as you need for the nebulizer. The seal of the container will not be compromised, and the shelf life of the remaining drug placed in the refrigerator will not be in doubt the next time it is used.

However, we should not forget that this only applies to the use of saline solution for inhalation. If you are using the drug for intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection, the remaining liquid after using the required amount is immediately discarded. No matter how much and how correctly the saline solution is stored, it will no longer bring any benefit.

Despite the fact that this medicine belongs to the group of medicines of natural origin, you must be careful about its safety. Do not put bottles and ampoules with the drug in the freezer, do not reuse the drug, even if there is a sufficient amount left in the nebulizer. Be sure to follow all instructions for use and storage of the solution, and only in this case will it give the desired result and speed up the healing process.

Loading…

nasmorklechit.ru

What is saline solution?

Quite often, doctors are faced with the fact that their patients confuse several medications. All these solutions are clear, colorless and administered parenterally. But only one of them is called physiological. Drugs that are controversial:

• Sodium chloride 0.9% and 10%.
• Potassium chloride.
• Calcium chloride.
• Calcium gluconate.

Only 0.9% or isotonic sodium chloride is called saline. It contains 9 g of table salt and up to 1 liter of water. Chemically, it is the sodium salt of hydrochloric acid, the same concentration in which it is found in blood plasma.

Sodium chloride can be administered:

• Orally, that is, inside.
• Intravenously.
• Intramuscularly.
• Inhalation.
• Through the rectum (enema).
• Drop into eyes and nose.
• Rinse your mouth.
• Apply to the wound surface.

Sodium chloride can be given subcutaneously, although this does not make much sense for human treatment. All other chlorides are administered either into a vein or through the mouth.

Calcium chloride introduced past the vessel causes tissue necrosis. When introduced into a vein, a warming effect is created. Therefore, this injection is called a “hot injection”. Calcium gluconate can be taken orally, injected into a vein or muscle without consequences for the body.

There is information in open sources that 0.9% sodium chloride, when administered subcutaneously and intramuscularly, causes tissue necrosis. This is a misconception. This effect will occur if calcium chloride is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Unpleasant consequences await the patient when a 10% NACL solution, that is, a hypertonic solution, is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. This concentration is applicable only for intravenous administration and external use. A possible consequence of hypertonic NACL solution getting under the skin is tissue necrosis.

Probably the question of what will happen if you drink saline solution or what will happen if a child drank it is justified by the fact that the instructions indicate: “a means for parenteral administration.” In the absence of contraindications to its use, there will be no harmful consequences if this drug is taken orally. Moreover, it is allowed for oral administration regardless of age. Sometimes babies prefer saline solution to water.

No matter how this drug is introduced into the body, in moderate doses and according to indications, it will not cause harm.

On pharmacy counters this substance can be found in the form of a nasal spray (10 ml), in ampoules (5/10/20 ml) or bottles (100/200/400/1000 ml). The main indication for the use of the ampoule drug is dilution of drugs. Sodium chloride in vials is used:

• For dehydration.
• Eliminate sodium deficiency.
• In the postoperative period to maintain the volume of the liquid part of the blood (plasma).
• As a base solution for administering medications.
• To replenish the volume of circulating blood in case of extensive blood loss (if for some reason other means cannot be administered).

Drug ions are important components contained in the extracellular fluid. They maintain the osmosis of body fluids (plasma and extracellular environment) at the proper level.

In addition to the main indications, sodium chloride can be used:

1. For treating the mucous lining of the nose and eyes and moisturizing it.
2. For treating wound surfaces.
3. During intense physical work or high ambient temperatures.
4. For gastric lavage.
5. For inhalation, as a base solution or main solution (to moisturize the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract).

It is recommended to rinse the nasal passages for rhinitis, both allergic and bacterial, for sinusitis, and high dust levels in the air. Children, starting from the newborn period, can drip sodium chloride into the nose. Before the medicine to cleanse the nasal passages of mucus and bacteria and better absorption of the medicine. And also at high temperatures and increased dry air to prevent swelling of the nasal mucosa.

Sodium chloride for eyes

This eye wash is suitable for:

• Chemical burns.
• Ingress of foreign bodies.
• Allergic and infectious conjunctivitis to remove pathogenic microorganisms and allergens.

You can drip saline solution to moisten the conjunctiva of the eyes of people whose work is associated with constant strain on the organ of vision and drying out of the mucous membrane.

The only condition for such use of the product is its sterility. It can be stored for no more than a day. In an open bottle (even if stored in the refrigerator), E. coli is sown after 24 hours. Therefore, in order to drip children’s noses or wash their eyes, it is better to buy 5 ml ampoules. Or you can buy a special nasal spray. It should be taken into account that sprays are not recommended for children in the first year of life - the child may be scared. It is better to open the bottle and drop it with a pipette.

If there is an electrolyte imbalance

Apply 10% NACL more frequently. It helps well with imbalance of electrolytes formed as a result of:

• Damage to large areas of the skin due to burns.
• Uncontrollable vomiting and profuse diarrhea.
• For gastric fistula.
• Various bleedings.

If you are dehydrated and do not have a 10% NACL solution, you can use an isotonic one. When working in hot shops, they usually drink salted mineral water, which can be replaced with a hypertonic NACL solution.

Is it possible to drink saline solution in the absence of hypertonic solution? There is no categorical prohibition. It's just that in this case it is less effective.

Applications in other situations

For the treatment of purulent wounds, a 10% NACL solution is recommended. But in its absence, it can be replaced with sterile saline solution. Inhalation of saline solution is recommended for allergies, bronchitis, asthma and a number of other diseases.

To replenish fluid volume or when using 0.9% sodium salt of hydrochloric acid as a base solution for intravenous administration, only a sterile preparation is used in an amount of 0.5–3 l for adults and 20–100 ml/kg of body weight for a child. The dose is calculated by the doctor based on the age of the small patient.

You can teach your child to gargle with sterile saline solution. It's okay if he drinks a little of the product. The sterile liquid will clear the tonsils for any bacterial throat infection.

Use of the drug after opening for inhalation

The effectiveness of saline inhalations has no limits. Most inhaled medications must be diluted with sodium chloride before use in a nebulizer. Mucolytic drugs are often diluted. To carry out inhalations using sodium chloride, you will need to use 3-4 ml of solution, and the procedure must be repeated every 3-4 hours. It is important to know! Inhalations with saline solution are effective even for children and pregnant women. Experts recommend performing inhalations using only sterile saline solutions. Filling the inhaler with non-sterile saline solution may introduce harmful microbes into the body. If sodium chloride is used to rinse the nose, then it is not necessary to use a sterile liquid. When rinsing the nose, the liquid does not penetrate into the lower parts of the respiratory organs, so the probability of microbes entering the body does not exceed 10%. Important! To increase the shelf life of sodium chloride, it is recommended to withdraw the drug from the bottle using a syringe with a needle. To do this, you need to pierce the rubber cap, and then draw the required amount of the drug into the syringe. If the cap on a bottle of saline solution is already open, then the following methods may be useful to you: Close the neck of the ampoule or bottle with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab. Close the container with a rubber stopper, then place a cotton swab on top, which must be moistened with alcohol. This option for storing sodium chloride allows you to extend its service life up to 3 days for use in the form of inhalations. It is recommended to store an open bottle of sodium chloride in the refrigerator, and a closed bottle should be stored at a temperature no higher than 25 degrees.