BEFORE YOU START

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Reconstituting a peptide means dissolving the lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder in a liquid — typically bacteriostatic water — to create a solution ready for research use.

All Purelux Labs peptides are supplied in lyophilised form and require reconstitution before use. This guide covers the correct procedure, equipment, and concentration calculations.

Lyophilised peptide vial

Bacteriostatic water

Sterile insulin syringes

Alcohol swabs (70% IPA)

Clean work surface

Gloves (recommended)

Labels and marker pen

Refrigerator for storage

FREE TOOL

PEPTIDE CALCULATOR

Use our free peptide calculator to work out exactly how much bacteriostatic water to add for your desired concentration. Takes the guesswork out of reconstitution.

OPEN CALCULATOR →

WHY BACTERIOSTATIC WATER?

Bacteriostatic water contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol which inhibits microbial growth, extending the shelf life of your reconstituted peptide to 28 days when stored at 2-8°C. Do not use sterile water or saline as these do not offer the same preservation.

STEP BY STEP

RECONSTITUTION PROTOCOL

1

CALCULATE YOUR VOLUME

Before starting, determine how much bacteriostatic water you need using our peptide calculator. Enter the peptide amount (in mg) and your desired concentration to get the exact water volume in mL.

Example: For a 10mg vial at 2mg/mL concentration, you would add 5mL of bacteriostatic water.

2

PREPARE YOUR WORKSPACE

Work on a clean, flat surface. Wash hands thoroughly and wear gloves if available. Ensure all equipment is sterile. Remove the peptide vial from the freezer and allow it to reach room temperature for 15-30 minutes before opening.

3

CLEAN THE RUBBER STOPPERS

Using an alcohol swab, clean the rubber stopper on both the peptide vial and the bacteriostatic water vial. Allow to air dry for 30-60 seconds. This prevents contamination when you insert the needle.

4

DRAW THE BACTERIOSTATIC WATER

Using a sterile syringe, draw the calculated amount of bacteriostatic water. Insert the needle through the rubber stopper of the water vial at a slight angle. Pull back the plunger to draw the correct volume. Remove the needle carefully.

5

ADD WATER TO PEPTIDE VIAL

Insert the needle through the rubber stopper of the peptide vial. Angle the needle so that the water runs down the side of the vial — not directly onto the peptide powder. Push the plunger slowly and steadily. Never force the water in quickly as this can damage the peptide structure.

6

DISSOLVE THE PEPTIDE

Once all the water has been added, gently swirl the vial in a circular motion until the peptide powder is fully dissolved. The solution should appear clear. Do not shake or vortex the vial as this can denature the peptide. If the peptide does not dissolve, allow to sit for a few minutes then swirl again.

7

LABEL AND STORE

Label the vial with the peptide name, concentration, and date of reconstitution. Store at 2-8°C in a refrigerator, protected from light. Use within 28 days. For long-term storage, aliquot into smaller volumes and freeze at -80°C.

Read our full Peptide Storage Guide →

CONCENTRATION REFERENCE

COMMON RECONSTITUTION VOLUMES

Use our peptide calculator for exact volumes. The table below shows common reference points:

PEPTIDE AMOUNT	BAC WATER	CONCENTRATION	PER 0.1ML
5mg	1mL	5mg/mL	500mcg
10mg	2mL	5mg/mL	500mcg
10mg	5mL	2mg/mL	200mcg
20mg	4mL	5mg/mL	500mcg
50mg	10mL	5mg/mL	500mcg

Use our free calculator for any peptide amount and desired concentration.

FAQ

RECONSTITUTION FAQ

What is bacteriostatic water and where do I get it?

Bacteriostatic water is sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol which prevents microbial growth. It is available from Purelux Labs and many pharmacy or medical supply stores in Australia. Always use bacteriostatic water — not sterile water, saline, or tap water.

How much water do I add to reconstitute my peptide?

This depends on your desired concentration. Use our free peptide calculator to calculate the exact volume for any peptide amount and target concentration. As a general reference, adding 2mL to a 10mg vial gives a concentration of 5mg/mL.

My peptide won't dissolve — what should I do?

Allow the vial to sit for 5-10 minutes after adding the water, then gently swirl again. Some peptides dissolve slowly. Do not shake. If the peptide still won't dissolve, try placing the vial in a warm water bath (not hot) for a few minutes. Contact Purelux Labs if you continue to have issues.

Can I use sterile water instead of bacteriostatic water?

Sterile water can be used but it does not contain benzyl alcohol, meaning microbial growth is not inhibited. If using sterile water, the reconstituted peptide should be used within 24 hours rather than the 28-day window that bacteriostatic water provides.

How do I know if my reconstituted peptide has gone bad?

Discard the vial if the solution is cloudy, contains visible particles, or has changed colour. Also discard if it has been stored for more than 28 days at 2-8°C, or if you suspect contamination. When in doubt, do not use.

How do I draw the peptide solution from the vial?

Use a sterile insulin syringe. Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. Insert the needle at a slight angle and draw back the plunger to extract the desired amount. Use the concentration you calculated to determine the exact volume to draw.