AquaPak® Blue (acidified blue)

FAQs

• What is AquaPak® and how do I use it?

  AquaPak® Blue is a 420 ml pouch, ready-to-use water pouch that can be used in water transit kits for animal transportation or as complete water replacement. AquaPak® Blue is easily adaptable to many types of water valves or lixits that are used in similar systems. One pouch will provide enough hydration for 5 mice/2 rats for up to 2 weeks.

• What is the manufacturing process to produce the purified water in AquaPak®?

  Water coming into ClearH2O’s FDA-inspected manufacturing facility first passes through a 5-micron pre-filter before entering a triple-stage sequence of activated carbon filtration (1st stage), water softener treatment (2nd stage), and, then again, activated carbon filtration (3rd stage), before entering our Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane filtration system.  Batch processing occurs in a positive-pressure HEPA-filtered clean room environment.  The ultra-filtered water is then treated with acidification to a range of 2.5 to 3.0 pH or chlorination to a range of 5.0 to 20.0  ppm to meet customer specifications.  The purified treated water then goes through a final 1-micron filtration step before pouch filling and sealing, which also occurs in a separate, positive-pressure HEPA-filtered packaging clean room.

• What are the microbiological quality specifications for AquaPak®?

  Samples of AquaPak® pouches from each lot of production are sent to an independent third-party laboratory for microbiological testing.  Lots are released into inventory for commercial sale only upon test results that are reported in specification.  

• Are Certificates of Analysis available for AquaPak®?

  Yes. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is generated for each lot of AquaPak® and available online at www.clearh2o.com/about-clearh2o/quality-assurance/. Upon entering the AquaPak® lot number in the search field, a downloadable PDF file is provided. 

• What is the expiration dating for AquaPak®?

  The expiration dating for AquaPak® is twenty-four (24) months from the date of manufacture. 

• How is AquaPak® packaged?

  AquaPak® purified water is packaged in a 420 mL pouch; 30 – 420 ml pouches per case; 70 cases per pallet. 

• What is the AquaPak® pouch material made of and is it an approved food contact surface material?

  AquaPak® purified water is packaged in a custom designed ultra-high oxygen barrier, high strength, puncture and split resistant EVOH- pouch film. 

  AquaPak® pouch film meets CFR 21 177.1520 regulatory compliance as a food contact surface material.  Our pouch film is commonly used throughout the food and beverage industry for its high barrier properties that support extended shelf life. 

• Is the AquaPak® pouch material BPA-Free?

  Yes.  AquaPak® pouch film does not contain Bisphenol-A, or other bisphenols including B, C, E, F, S and Z. 

• How is AquaPak® labeled?

  Each pouch of AquaPak® is inkjet labeled including product name, fill volume, product code, lot number, and expiration date. 

  Each case of AquaPak® is inkjet labeled on the side of the box and includes product name, product code, pouch fill volume, pouch quantity/case, lot number, case number, and expiration date. 

• Can AquaPak® be subjected to extreme temperatures?

  The AquaPak® pouch film has been tested under extreme high (250°F) and low (0°F) temperatures.  The film integrity is maintained at these temperatures.   

  Normal temperature variations that can occur in transit and with seasonality should not have any impact on AquaPak®. 

• Is the exterior surface of the AquaPak® pouch sterile?

  Sealed AquaPak® pouches are packaged into corrugated cases inside a positive air pressure HEPA-Filtered room.  However, complete packaged cases are not subject to irradiation or an alternative kill-step.  Therefore, the exterior surface of the pouches are not considered sterile.    

• Can therapeutics be incorporated into AquaPak®?

  Yes. The AquaPak® pouch film can be used with commercially available transparent silicone self-sealing patches designed for injection of water-soluble compounds into lab animal water supplies. 

• What is ClearH2O’s Quality Program?

  ClearH2O manufactures products in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR Part 507).   

  ClearH2O operates an FDA approved HACCP facility that is inspected by independent third-party accredited bodies and federal agencies.  

  The ClearH2O quality program follows Safe Quality Food (SQF) accreditation requirements compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification.  

• How long does the AquaPak® water supply last?

  Using an average daily consumption rate of 5 mls (1) of water per mouse, a 420 ml AquaPak® pouch will last approximately 14 days for a 5-mouse cage density, and approximately 7 days for a 10-mouse cage density.  

  It is important to observe that there will always be some residual water (approx. 60 mls +/-) in the bottom of the pouch due to the height of the siphon holes relative to the depth of the shaft on the disposable valve coupled with the natural vacuum that develops in the pouch as the water is consumed.    

  Actual days of water supply will vary dependent on mouse model, sex, age, and environmental conditions.  

• How do I know when I need to change the AquaPak® pouch?

  The AquaPak® pouch should be changed when the pouch is completely collapsed upon itself, and the water level is slightly above the piercing cone of the valve. However, you will want to conduct testing to confirm how long the pouch will last under your conditions.  Please note that even though there is visible water left in the pouch, the water may not drip from the valve due to the vacuum created at this water level.  

• If the AquaPak® pouch lops over in the cage lid is the water that is held in the fold prevented from flowing?

  No. The vacuum created in the pouch pulls the water down toward the valve, making it available for the animals. 

• Do I need to change the disposable valve each time I change an AquaPak® pouch?

  No. The commercially disposable valves have performed reliably over multiple weeks of AquaPak® pouch changes and can be used continuously until either cage lids are disposed of, or the cage population has been transferred. 

  However, consistent with good husbandry practices, it is important to monitor and inspect the operation of the valves to ensure they are reliably functioning and/or that the rodents haven’t chewed the valves to the point of being inoperable. 

• What are the performance risks with using the AquaPak® pouch and commercially available disposable valves?

  As with all forms of rodent cage water supplies, leakage, flooding, and interrupted flow leading to dehydration are the most common performance concerns. However, these occurrences with AquaPak® are rare. 

  Leakage does not occur when proper application of the AquaPak® pouch to the disposable valve is performed. 

  Flooding risk is very low and, to date, has only occurred when excessive valve chewing has been overlooked. 

  Interrupted water flow is a very low risk due to valve failure.  Testing valve operation at the initial pouch installation and at pouch change out should prevent this occurrence.