Peptide storage and laboratory handling

Scope of this page

This page covers laboratory handling of materials supplied for in-vitro research: storage conditions, container handling and record keeping. It contains no preparation, administration or usage guidance of any kind.

Where product-specific storage information has been supplied for a material, that information takes precedence over any general principle described here.

The main degradation pathways

Peptides are chemically reactive and their stability depends on sequence. The practical factors that most often affect stored material are temperature, moisture, light and repeated temperature cycling.

• Temperature — higher storage temperatures generally accelerate chemical degradation.
• Moisture — lyophilised material is typically hygroscopic, and absorbed water enables hydrolysis.
• Oxidation — some residues are susceptible to oxidation on exposure to air.
• Light — some sequences are light-sensitive, so amber or opaque storage is common practice.
• Freeze–thaw cycling — repeated warming and cooling stresses material more than steady storage.

Practical handling in the laboratory

• Allow a sealed container to reach room temperature before opening, so atmospheric moisture does not condense onto cold material.
• Minimise the time a container spends open.
• Return material to its specified storage condition promptly rather than leaving it on the bench.
• Avoid unnecessary transfers between containers, which invite contamination and loss.
• Keep the original label and batch identifier with the material.

Records worth keeping

A short log of batch identifier, receipt date, storage location, storage temperature and any excursions makes it possible to explain an anomalous result later instead of guessing at it.

Transit and receipt

Material spends time in transit outside its long-term storage condition. Inspect packaging on arrival, record the condition, and move the material into its specified storage promptly. Note anything unusual against the batch record at the time rather than retrospectively.