Peptide Handling Best Practices

Sterile technique

Wipe every septum with 70% isopropyl before every entry — not just the first. Work on a clean, uncluttered surface. Never re-use a syringe or needle between vials. A single contaminated entry can compromise a multi-dose vial for good.

Temperature discipline

The single largest avoidable cause of degradation is temperature cycling. Take a vial out, use it, put it back. Do not leave reconstituted material on the bench while you do something else, and do not refreeze a solution you have already thawed.

Light

Several compounds in our catalogue are photosensitive — GHK-Cu and melanotan-2 most notably. Store them in their original amber-shielded packaging or in a dark container, and minimise bench-top exposure.

Aliquoting

If a reconstituted vial will outlast the 30-day refrigerated window, aliquot it into single-use portions and freeze those. One freeze cycle per aliquot is far gentler than repeatedly thawing a single vial. Label every aliquot with compound, concentration and date — you will not remember.

Documentation

Keep a log: lot number, reconstitution date, diluent volume, resulting concentration, storage location. When a result looks unexpected, that log is the only thing that lets you distinguish a material problem from a protocol problem.

Disposal

Dispose of sharps in an approved sharps container. Follow your institution's or municipality's requirements for laboratory waste.

Research use only. These notes describe laboratory handling of reference materials and are not guidance for use in humans or animals.