Storing lyophilized material
Keep unopened lyophilized vials cold, dry, and protected from light. A common research-bench practice is −20 °C storage for lyophilized peptides, with tighter control (−80 °C) when a study-specific protocol or certificate specifies it. Avoid repeated warm–cold cycling of the stock vial; condensation introduces moisture that accelerates degradation.
After opening, reseal promptly. Label the open date. Do not assume a powder that has sat warm on a bench for hours is still equivalent to a freshly received cold vial — document deviations when they happen.
Choosing a laboratory diluent
Diluent selection for laboratory stock solutions should match the study-specific protocol and validated assay requirements: sterile water, bacteriostatic water (water with a preservative such as benzyl alcohol), dilute acetic acid, or another solvent specified by the method. Bacteriostatic water can support multi-use reconstituted laboratory stocks when the preservative is compatible with the assay readout; switch to preservative-free sterile water when the analytical workflow is known to be sensitive to benzyl alcohol.
Calculate volume from the vial’s labeled mass and the target experimental concentration before opening the vial under sterile laboratory technique. Add diluent slowly, allow the lyophilized cake to wet, and swirl gently — aggressive foaming can denature some sequences and make assay preparation less reproducible.
After preparing a laboratory stock
Once a laboratory stock solution is prepared, store it at 2–8°C unless a product certificate or study-specific protocol specifies otherwise. Portion working aliquots so the main stock is not opened for every plate, and protect aromatic-rich peptides from strong light during open-bench work.
Record solvent, experimental concentration, aliquot date, and lot number in the notebook so later anomalies can be traced. Follow your institution’s discard timeline for reconstituted research stocks.
What this page is not
This is laboratory handling guidance for research materials — not instructions for human or veterinary administration, personal use, or clinical preparation. Follow your institution’s chemical hygiene plan, PPE rules, and waste disposal procedures. For product-specific storage lines, see each product’s research details table.