Most research peptides ship as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilization removes water so the material stays stable far longer than it would in solution. That stability depends on how the vial is stored and handled once it reaches your lab. These are the general practices most labs follow; always defer to the supplier label and your own procedures.
On arrival
- Inspect each vial: the seal and crimp should be intact and the powder should look like a dry cake or loose powder, not a wet or sticky residue.
- Record the product, amount and lot number, and match the lot to its certificate of analysis.
- Move vials into appropriate storage promptly. Short periods at room temperature during shipping are normal for lyophilized material.
Temperature
Lyophilized peptides are commonly kept refrigerated (about 2–8 °C) for short-term storage and frozen (about −20 °C or colder) for longer-term storage. Colder storage generally slows degradation. Avoid frost-free freezers where possible, because their defrost cycles cause small temperature swings.
Light and moisture
Keep vials in the dark, in their box or an opaque container, since some amino acids are light-sensitive. Moisture is the bigger risk for a dry powder: water allows chemical reactions that the lyophilization process was meant to stop. A sealed container with a desiccant pack is a simple safeguard.
Let cold vials warm up before opening
When a cold vial is opened in a warm room, moisture from the air condenses on the powder. Let refrigerated or frozen vials reach room temperature, still sealed, before opening or entering them.
Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles
Each freeze–thaw cycle can degrade material, especially once it is in solution. Labs that need to use a material over time often divide it into single-use aliquots so only what is needed is thawed each time.
Once in solution
Peptides are much less stable in solution than as a dry powder. Solutions are generally kept refrigerated and used within a limited period defined by your protocol. Choice of diluent matters too; see our reference on bacteriostatic water.
Labeling
Label every vial and aliquot with the compound, lot number, concentration (if in solution), date prepared and storage conditions. Good labeling is what lets you trace any result back to a specific lot and its COA.
All 406 Peptides products are sold for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or veterinary use, and nothing in this article is medical advice.