1. Lyophilised (powder) storage
Lyophilised peptides are freeze-dried under vacuum into a powder or cake. This form is significantly more stable than reconstituted liquid.
| Condition | Expected stability |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator (2–8°C) | 2–4 years from manufacture for most peptides — effectively indefinite for practical purposes |
| Room temperature (under 25°C) | Weeks to a few months — acceptable for short-term, avoid for long-term storage |
| Freezer (−20°C) | Not necessary; no clear benefit over refrigeration for lyophilised powder |
| Light exposure | Keep in original dark vial or away from light — some peptides (MT-1, MT-2, PT-141) are light-sensitive |
💡 Tip: Store unreconstituted vials in the refrigerator. If you're not using a vial for more than a month, keep it refrigerated. The vials are sealed under inert gas — don't puncture until you're ready to reconstitute.
2. Reconstituted storage
Once you add BAC water to a lyophilised peptide, the clock starts. Reconstituted peptides are significantly less stable than powder.
| Storage method | Expected stability |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator (2–8°C) with BAC water | Up to 28 days for most peptides |
| Refrigerator (2–8°C) with sterile water | 24–48 hours maximum — use the vial within this window |
| Freezer (−20°C) | Can extend to 3+ months — but only freeze once; repeated freeze-thaw cycles degrade peptides |
| Room temperature | Hours to a couple of days at most — not recommended |
⚠️ Important: The 28-day guideline for BAC water applies to the benzyl alcohol preservative inhibiting bacterial growth. The peptide itself may degrade somewhat over this period depending on the specific compound. Freshly reconstituted peptide is always more potent than 3-week-old reconstituted peptide.
3. Shelf life reference
| Peptide class | Lyophilised | Reconstituted in BAC water |
|---|---|---|
| BPC-157, TB-500 | 2+ years refrigerated | 28 days refrigerated |
| GH secretagogues (CJC, Ipa, GHRP) | 2+ years refrigerated | 28 days refrigerated |
| GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) | 2+ years refrigerated | 28 days refrigerated |
| Melanocortin peptides (MT-1/2, PT-141) | 2+ years refrigerated, keep from light | 28 days refrigerated, keep from light |
| Cognitive (Semax, Selank) | 2+ years refrigerated | 28 days refrigerated |
| Bioregulator peptides (epithalon, etc.) | 2+ years refrigerated | 28 days refrigerated |
These are general guidelines. Check the specific research overview for any peptide with known stability concerns.
4. Signs of degradation
A degraded peptide may be ineffective or, if contaminated, potentially harmful. Check your vials before every injection:
- Cloudiness or turbidity in what should be a clear solution — suggests precipitation or contamination
- Visible particles floating or settled at the bottom
- Unusual colour — most reconstituted peptides are colourless to very pale; significant yellowing or browning is a warning sign
- Off smell — a unusual or fermented odour after uncapping
- Powder that won't dissolve — some polymerisation or degradation may have occurred
🚫 Warning: When in doubt, discard. The cost of a vial is trivial compared to the risk of injecting a degraded or contaminated solution.
5. Transport and cold chain
Short-term transport (1–2 days) of lyophilised peptides without refrigeration is generally acceptable, provided temperatures stay below 25°C. Reconstituted peptides are more sensitive.
- Use an insulated cooler bag with an ice pack for any transport over 30 minutes in warm conditions.
- Don't let vials freeze in direct contact with ice — use a cloth or second bag as a buffer.
- When travelling by air, keep peptides in carry-on luggage — hold baggage experiences extreme cold and temperature swings.
- See the travelling with peptides guide for customs and documentation.