RPB
Guide 02

Storage & handling

Peptides are fragile molecules. Heat, light, moisture and time all break them down. Most handling advice comes down to slowing that process and noticing when it has happened.

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Draft content — pending editorial and medical review.
Before you start
  • A fridge that holds 2–8 °C (a cheap thermometer tells you)
  • A box or the original carton, to keep vials out of the light
  • A pen or labels for dates
  • The storage row of each compound’s profile summary
Profiles list storage as reported for each compound. Where they differ from this guide, the profile wins.

Before mixing: the powder

Lyophilised () powder is the most stable form a peptide comes in. Removing the water removes most of the chemistry that breaks it down.

Studies and product labels generally report refrigeration for medium-term storage and freezing for long-term storage. Room temperature for days is usually tolerated; for weeks, less so. Keep vials dry and dark.

If a vial has been frozen, let it reach room temperature before opening the carton, so condensation doesn’t form on the stopper.

After mixing: the solution

Once a peptide is in solution, the clock runs faster. Refrigerate it, keep it out of the light, and don’t refreeze it.

How long a vial stays usable varies by compound and . slows bacterial growth over several weeks; sterile water does not, so vials made with it are generally used much sooner. Community practice for many compounds is around four weeks — that is a convention, not a tested shelf life.

Your vial log records the mixing date and works out a discard-by date for you.

Signs of degradation

Cloudiness or particles. A clear solution that turns cloudy, or shows flecks, should not be used.
Colour change. Most solutions are colourless. GHK-Cu is clear blue; a fading or green-brown tint suggests it has degraded.
Powder that has collapsed or turned sticky. A sign the vial took on moisture.
Unknown history. If you can’t say how a vial was stored, you can’t say what is in it.

Common mistakes

Storing in the fridge door. It warms every time the door opens. Use a shelf at the back.
Freezing a mixed vial. Freeze–thaw cycles damage peptides in solution.
Leaving vials in daylight. UV light breaks peptide bonds. Keep them boxed.
Travelling without a cool pack. A hot car can undo weeks of careful storage in an afternoon.