Storing lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptides in the lab
By BioGenisys Research Team · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-27
Our compounds ship as a freeze-dried (lyophilized) powder, because a dry peptide is far more stable than one in liquid. It handles shipping at room temperature fine. Once it arrives, how you store it decides how long it stays in good condition.
The short version
- Freezer (-20 °C) for anything you won't use soon.
- Keep it dark: in its box or another closed container.
- Let a cold vial warm up before you open it, so moisture doesn't get in.
When it arrives
- Check the seal and the lot number on each vial, and write down the date it arrived.
- Put sealed vials in a freezer at -20 °C if you won't use them soon.
- Keep vials in their box or another dark container. Light, especially sunlight, breaks down many peptides.
Moisture is the biggest risk
Freeze-dried powder soaks up water from the air. A cold vial opened in a warm room collects condensation inside, like a cold drink sweating on a summer day, and that moisture speeds up breakdown. Let a vial reach room temperature, still sealed, before opening it, and close it again promptly.
Avoid repeated freezing and thawing
Each freeze and thaw puts stress on the peptide. If you'll open a vial more than once, plan your work so it isn't taken in and out of the freezer over and over, and note each time it leaves storage.
Shelf life
Most freeze-dried peptides stay stable for 12 to 24 months stored sealed at -20 °C and away from light. It varies by compound. Once dissolved into a lab solution, a peptide is much less stable than the dry powder, and how long it lasts should be checked for each experiment.
For what to write down, see Lot records and traceability. Full storage notes are in our Research handling guidelines.
For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.