How to Reconstitute Peptides: Step-by-Step Guide
Research peptides are supplied as a lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder in sealed glass vials. Before use in any research protocol, this powder must be reconstituted — dissolved into a sterile solution using bacteriostatic water. The process is straightforward but requires attention to aseptic technique to maintain peptide integrity and solution sterility.
This guide covers the complete reconstitution process, recommended water volumes for each BioRelix product, post-reconstitution storage, and the most common mistakes researchers make.
What You Need
- Peptide vial — lyophilised powder, sealed with a rubber stopper and aluminium crimp cap
- Bacteriostatic water (BAC water) — sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative. This is not the same as sterile water for injection, which lacks preservative and must be used immediately
- Insulin syringes — typically 1 mL (100 units) with a 29–31 gauge needle. The fine gauge minimises coring of the rubber stopper
- Alcohol swabs — 70% isopropyl alcohol pads for disinfecting vial tops before piercing
All BioRelix orders include bacteriostatic water, insulin syringes, alcohol swabs, and a printed reconstitution card. No separate supply purchases are required.
Step-by-Step Process
Clean your workspace
Wash your hands thoroughly. Work on a clean, flat surface. Remove the peptide vial and bacteriostatic water from the refrigerator and allow them to reach room temperature for 5–10 minutes. This reduces thermal shock to the peptide and improves dissolution.
Swab the vial tops
Use an alcohol swab to wipe the rubber stopper on both the peptide vial and the bacteriostatic water vial. Allow the alcohol to air-dry for 10–15 seconds before piercing. This step prevents microbial contamination of the solution.
Fill the syringe with bacteriostatic water
Using a fresh insulin syringe, draw the appropriate volume of bacteriostatic water (see the volume table below). Insert the needle through the centre of the BAC water vial's rubber stopper, invert the vial, and draw slowly to the desired mark. Remove air bubbles by tapping the syringe barrel and pushing the plunger gently until a small drop appears at the needle tip.
Inject slowly along the vial wall
Pierce the peptide vial's stopper and angle the needle so it contacts the inside glass wall. Depress the plunger slowly, allowing the water to trickle down the wall and pool at the bottom. Do not inject directly onto the lyophilised powder. Direct force can damage the peptide's molecular structure, particularly for larger, more fragile peptides like semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Swirl gently — never shake
Remove the syringe. Hold the vial between your fingers and rotate it gently in a circular motion, allowing the water to wash over the powder. Most peptides dissolve within 30–60 seconds. If powder remains stuck to the walls, let the vial sit upright in the refrigerator for 15–30 minutes, then swirl again. Never shake the vial. Shaking creates foam and can denature the peptide through mechanical shear stress.
Refrigerate immediately
Once fully dissolved, the solution should be clear and colourless. Return the reconstituted vial to the refrigerator (2–8°C) immediately. Label the vial with the reconstitution date. Use within 28 days. Do not freeze reconstituted peptides — ice crystal formation can destroy the peptide structure.
Recommended Bacteriostatic Water Volumes
The table below shows the recommended reconstitution volumes for each BioRelix product. These volumes are chosen to produce practical per-unit concentrations that align with standard insulin syringe markings.
| Product | Vial Content | BAC Water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | 5 mg | 2.0 mL | 2.5 mg/mL (0.25 mg per 10 units) |
| Tirzepatide | 10 mg | 2.0 mL | 5 mg/mL (0.5 mg per 10 units) |
| Retatrutide | 10 mg | 2.0 mL | 5 mg/mL (0.5 mg per 10 units) |
| BPC-157 | 10 mg | 2.0 mL | 5 mg/mL (250 mcg per 5 units) |
| TB-500 | 10 mg | 2.0 mL | 5 mg/mL (250 mcg per 5 units) |
| BPC-157 + TB-500 Blend | 5 mg + 5 mg | 2.0 mL | 2.5 mg each/mL |
| NAD+ | 1000 mg | 10.0 mL | 100 mg/mL |
| Epitalon | 10 mg | 2.0 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| GHK-Cu | 100 mg | 5.0 mL | 20 mg/mL |
| Tesamorelin | 10 mg | 2.0 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin | 5 mg + 5 mg | 2.5 mL | 2 mg each/mL |
| Selank | 5 mg | 1.0 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| PT-141 | 10 mg | 2.0 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| DSIP | 5 mg | 2.0 mL | 2.5 mg/mL |
These volumes are recommendations, not prescriptions. Researchers may adjust volumes based on their specific protocol requirements. Adding more water produces a more dilute solution (easier to measure small amounts); less water produces a more concentrated solution (fewer injections per dose).
Storage After Reconstitution
- Temperature: 2–8°C (standard refrigerator). Do not store in the freezer. Do not leave at room temperature.
- Light: Keep away from direct sunlight and fluorescent lighting. Store in original box or wrap in aluminium foil.
- Duration: Use within 28 days of reconstitution. Mark the date on the vial with a marker or label.
- Sterility: Always swab the stopper with alcohol before each withdrawal. Use a fresh syringe each time — never reuse needles.
Common Mistakes
❌ Injecting water directly onto the powder. The force can damage peptide bonds. Always trickle water down the inside wall of the vial.
❌ Shaking the vial to dissolve. Mechanical agitation creates foam and can denature the peptide through shear stress. Swirl gently, or let it dissolve passively in the fridge.
❌ Using sterile water instead of bacteriostatic water. Sterile water lacks the benzyl alcohol preservative. Without it, bacteria can colonise the vial within hours. Multi-dose use requires bacteriostatic water.
❌ Leaving reconstituted peptides at room temperature. Peptides degrade rapidly above 8°C once in solution. Always return vials to the refrigerator immediately after drawing a dose.
❌ Reusing syringes. Reused needles are no longer sterile and develop microscopic barbs that core the rubber stopper, introducing particulate matter into the vial.
❌ Freezing reconstituted peptides. Ice crystals physically shear peptide chains. Unreconstituted (lyophilised) powder can tolerate freezing; reconstituted solutions cannot.
All BioRelix orders include bacteriostatic water and syringes. No separate supply runs required. Every order also includes a printed reconstitution card with product-specific water volumes.
Browse Products →If you're unsure about anything during the reconstitution process, message us on Telegram before proceeding. We're happy to walk you through it.