Peptide storage and handling guide

Peptides degrade through several routes: hydrolysis, oxidation (particularly methionine, cysteine and tryptophan residues), deamidation and aggregation. Good storage slows every one of them. The rules below apply to most research peptides; always check compound-specific data where it exists.

Lyophilised (powder) peptides

• Long-term storage: -20°C or colder, in the sealed vial.
• Short-term storage (weeks): 2 to 8°C refrigeration is suitable for most peptides.
• Transit: lyophilised peptides tolerate room temperature for the few days of normal UK delivery.
• Keep vials away from light and moisture. Store them in their box or an opaque container.
• Allow a cold vial to reach room temperature before opening, so moisture does not condense on the powder.

Reconstituted (solution) peptides

• Store at 2 to 8°C and protect from light.
• Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. If freezing is needed, aliquot first.
• Use sterile technique every time the vial is accessed.
• Bacteriostatic water limits microbial growth in multi-access vials; sterile water does not.
• Label every vial with the compound, concentration, batch number and date.

Signs of degradation

Cloudiness, visible particles, a change in colour (other than a compound's normal colour) or a powder that has collapsed into a sticky film can all indicate moisture exposure or degradation. If in doubt, do not use the material in an experiment and contact us with the batch number.