AquaValve®

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.

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®. To maintain integrity of the pouch
seal, AquaPak® should not be subjected to extreme temperatures.

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.

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.

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.

AquaValve® is packaged in 100-valve containers that have been e-beam irradiated and confirmed sterile.

Using an average daily consumption rate of 5mLs of water per mouse, a 450mL 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. 60mLs +/-) 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. 

Yes. The blue external components of AquaValve® are made of
polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic. POM is commonly used for its rigidity and
abrasion resistance (chewing). The POM used in AquaValve is compliant with FDA, USDA, NSF, and other food material standards for safe contact with food and
water. AquaValve® plastic components do not contain Bisphenol-A, or
other bisphenols including B, C, E, F, S and Z.

Yes, the components of AquaValve® are recyclable.

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

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 is not considered sterile.

AquaPak® is a 450mL, ready-to-use water pouch that can be used as a complete water supply. AquaPak® is compatible with commercially available disposable water valves. One pouch will provide enough hydration for 5 mice/2 rats for up to 2 weeks.

EVOH (Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol) is a type of plastic that is commonly used in
packaging products as a barrier layer. It is a very effective oxygen barrier,
which means that it can prevent the transfer of oxygen into or out of the
package. This can help to preserve the freshness and quality of the product
inside. EVOH film is commonly used in packaging for food, pharmaceutical
products, and industrial chemicals where minimum permeability is require.

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.

AquaPak® Blue contains an inert food-grade color additive approved by the FDA.

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

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 25.0 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.

Check with your cage manufacturer for water pouch adapter information.

Self-sealing silicon injection patches are commercially available from various laboratory suppliers.