Many laboratories worry about what happens to peptides between the supplier and the lab bench, especially in a Canadian summer or winter. The good news is that lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptides are designed to travel. This guide explains why, and what to check when a parcel arrives.
Why lyophilized peptides ship well
Freeze-drying removes almost all water from the peptide. Without water, the reactions that break peptides down happen very slowly, so a sealed vial of dry powder tolerates a few days at room temperature, which is the typical length of domestic shipping. Peptides in solution are far less stable, which is why research peptides are shipped dry.
Canadian weather
- Summer heat: short periods in a warm delivery vehicle are generally tolerated by sealed lyophilized peptides. Prolonged heat is best avoided, so bring parcels inside promptly.
- Winter cold: cold does not harm dry peptides. The risk is condensation: if you open a cold vial in a warm room, moisture can form on the powder. Let vials reach room temperature before opening them.
- Transit time: shipping within Canada avoids customs holds and keeps transit short. ReVICO ships from within Canada with tracking.
Arrival checklist
- Check the packaging. Note any crushed or wet boxes before opening.
- Check each seal and cap. The flip-off cap and crimp should be intact.
- Check the powder. Lyophilized peptide usually appears as a white or off-white cake or loose powder (some compounds, such as GHK-Cu, are naturally blue). A cake that has broken up into powder during shipping is normal and does not indicate a problem.
- Check the labels. Confirm the compound and amount per vial match your order.
- Match to the lab report. Compare against the supplier’s report for the product. See How to Read a Peptide Lab Report.
- Store promptly. Move vials to 2–8 °C for short-term or −20 °C for long-term storage, sealed and away from light.
- Record it. Log the compound, date received, batch reference and storage location.
When to contact the supplier
Contact the supplier if a seal is broken, a vial is cracked, the label does not match your order, or the contents look clearly wrong (for example, liquid in a vial that should contain dry powder). Reach ReVICO through our contact page.
Related guides
- How to Store Lyophilized Peptides in the Lab
- Research Peptides in Canada: How to Choose a Reliable Supplier
All ReVICO Labs products are supplied for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or veterinary consumption and are not approved by Health Canada for therapeutic or diagnostic use.
