UNRECONSTITUTED (LYOPHILIZED) STORAGE: Lyophilized peptides are highly stable due to removal of water, which is the primary driver of hydrolysis and degradation. Storage hierarchy: (1) -20°C freezer — optimal long-term storage, stability measured in years for most peptides. (2) 2-8°C refrigerator — good for weeks to months, adequate for peptides that will be used within a few months. (3) Room temperature (20-25°C) — acceptable for short transit and temporary storage (days), but accelerates degradation over weeks. (4) Elevated temperature (>30°C) — avoid; significantly accelerates degradation. Moisture is the enemy of lyophilized peptides — keep vials sealed, do not open until ready to reconstitute. Desiccant packets help if storing multiple vials together. RECONSTITUTED STORAGE: Once dissolved in BAC water, peptides are subject to: hydrolysis (peptide bond cleavage), oxidation (especially methionine and cysteine-containing peptides), deamidation (asparagine→aspartate), microbial contamination (mitigated by benzyl alcohol in BAC water). Storage at 2-8°C slows all degradation pathways. Most reconstituted peptides maintain >90% potency for 28-30 days refrigerated. Some especially stable peptides (BPC-157, TB-500) may retain potency for 6-8 weeks, but 30 days is the conservative standard. LIGHT SENSITIVITY: GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide), growth hormone peptides, and melanocortin peptides are moderately light-sensitive. Store in original vials (which are often amber/brown) or wrap in foil. UV light accelerates oxidative degradation.
storage
Peptide Storage — Before and After Reconstitution
💡 Tips
TRAVEL: For travel with peptides, use an insulated cooler bag with ice packs. TSA allows injectable medications with proper labeling. Unreconstituted vials can survive room temperature for 1-3 days without significant degradation. Reconstituted vials should stay cold — if they reach room temperature for more than a few hours, potency may be compromised. COMMON MISTAKE: Storing reconstituted vials in the freezer — the ice crystals that form during freezing physically damage the peptide molecules and can denature them entirely. This is the #1 peptide storage mistake. BATCH MANAGEMENT: Label every vial with: peptide name, reconstitution date, concentration, and expected discard date (28 days from recon). Use a marker directly on the vial or use adhesive labels.
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