Geek Moment

[kybearfuzz]

As read and paraphrased from Twitter:

"Why does rubbing alcohol have an expiration date?"

Rubbing alcohol is usually a 50% (or more) solution of isopropyl alcohol in water and is classified as a drug by the FDA due to its antiseptic properties. If you look on the label, it has a "Drug Facts" section on it normally.

Drug companies are required to have scientific data to support the stability of the product, meaning essentially how long will it retain its potency over time in its commercial container. Manufacturers of rubbing alcohol put an expiry date on their product because they have data to show that it will retain its potency (the amount of isopropyl alcohol content) up to that date.

Does this mean that after this date, the potency has gone down? Maybe and maybe not. Given the nature of this product, it's more likely that this is the minimum time measured that the potency is guaranteed.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program...

Comments

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL... you should hear me talk about chromatographic method validation techniques for assay and content uniformity testing. It's riveting... :D