How to store research peptides
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Peptides are delicate molecules. Stored well, a lyophilised (freeze-dried) peptide can stay stable for a long time; stored badly, it can break down before an experiment even starts. Four things matter most: temperature, moisture, light and air.
Temperature
| How long | Where to keep it |
|---|---|
| Short term | 2–8°C (36–46°F), in a laboratory fridge |
| Long term | −20°C, in a freezer |
We keep our own stock at −20°C until it is packed. Lyophilised powder tolerates a few days at room temperature in transit, but it should go into cold storage as soon as it arrives.
Avoid frost-free freezers where you can. They warm up briefly on a cycle to clear ice, and repeated small temperature swings are hard on peptides.
Moisture
Lyophilised peptides are hygroscopic: they pull water from the air, and water speeds up breakdown. Keep vials sealed until they are needed.
When you take a vial out of the fridge or freezer, let it reach room temperature before opening it. Opening a cold vial lets condensation form on the powder.
Light
Some amino acids, such as tryptophan, tyrosine and cysteine, are sensitive to light. Store vials in their box or in a dark container, away from direct sunlight and bright lab lighting.
Air
Oxygen can damage peptides that contain methionine, cysteine or tryptophan. Keep vials tightly sealed, and open them only as often as you need to.
Powder versus solution
A peptide is far more stable as a dry powder than in solution. That is why research peptides are supplied lyophilised. Once a peptide is in solution, its shelf life drops sharply; follow your laboratory's own protocols for handling and storing solutions, and avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
Quick checklist
- Into cold storage as soon as it arrives
- 2–8°C short term, −20°C long term
- Sealed, dry and dark
- Warm to room temperature before opening
- Avoid frost-free freezers and repeated temperature swings
The storage conditions for each batch are also on its certificate of analysis, shown on every product page. See our guide on how to read a certificate of analysis, or browse our research peptides.
All products sold by Absolute Peptides are for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.