For research & educational purposes only. This article is a neutral, procedural reference for laboratory / in-vitro research handling — not medical advice or a usage recommendation. These materials are not for human or animal consumption.
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What reconstitution is
Reconstitution simply means dissolving a lyophilized peptide powder into a liquid (a diluent) so its concentration is known and it can be handled accurately in research. The most common diluent is bacteriostatic water — sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which limits microbial growth so a multi-use vial stays stable in the refrigerator.
Some compounds do not use bacteriostatic water. ARA-290 (Cibinetide) is reconstituted with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Always check the compound's own documentation and Certificate of Analysis before choosing a diluent.
What you'll need
- The lyophilized peptide vial
- Bacteriostatic water (or the diluent specified for that compound)
- A sterile syringe for drawing the diluent
- Alcohol prep swabs
- A clean work surface and refrigeration for storage
Step-by-step (laboratory handling)
- 1Let both the peptide vial and the diluent reach room temperature.
- 2Swab the rubber stopper of each vial with an alcohol prep pad and let it dry.
- 3Draw your chosen volume of bacteriostatic water into the syringe.
- 4Insert the needle at an angle and let the water run slowly down the inside wall of the vial — not directly onto the powder.
- 5Do not shake. Gently swirl or let the vial sit until the powder is fully dissolved and the solution is clear.
- 6Label the vial with the concentration and date, and store it refrigerated in a dark environment.
The concentration math
The amount of diluent you add sets the concentration. More water = a more dilute solution that is easier to measure in small increments; less water = a more concentrated solution.
Concentration (mg/mL) = peptide amount (mg) ÷ diluent volume (mL)Worked example: a 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL. To measure 0.5 mg for a protocol: 0.5 ÷ 5 = 0.1 mL = 10 units on a U-100 syringe.
Full reconstitution table
Standard diluent volumes for every VNG catalog compound, grouped by category. These are handling references for laboratory preparation — not usage instructions. The table below is generated from the current VNG Reconstitution Sheet.
Weight management
| Product | Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retatrutide (GLP-3) | 5 mg | 0.5 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Retatrutide (GLP-3) | 10 mg | 1 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Retatrutide (GLP-3) | 20 mg | 2 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Retatrutide (GLP-3) | 30 mg | 3 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Tirzepatide | 10 mg | 1 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Tirzepatide | 20 mg | 2 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Tirzepatide | 30 mg | 3 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Semaglutide | 5 mg | 0.5 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Semaglutide | 10 mg | 1 mL | 10 mg/mL |
Skin & cosmetic
| Product | Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHK-Cu | 50 mg | 1.5 mL | ~33.3 mg/mL |
| GHK-Cu | 100 mg | 3 mL | ~33.3 mg/mL |
| AHK-Cu | 50 mg | 1.5 mL | ~33.3 mg/mL |
| AHK-Cu | 100 mg | 3 mL | ~33.3 mg/mL |
| Melanotan I | 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| Melanotan II | 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
Anti-aging & cellular
| Product | Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOTS-c | 10 mg | 0.5 mL | 20 mg/mL |
| MOTS-c | 40 mg | 2 mL | 20 mg/mL |
| NAD+ | 500 mg | 2.5 mL | 200 mg/mL |
| NAD+ | 1000 mg | 5 mL | 200 mg/mL |
Recovery & performance
| Product | Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 | 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| TB-500 | 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| KPV | 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| ARA-290 (Cibinetide) | 10 mg | 0.5 mL — Phosphate-Buffered Saline (NOT bacteriostatic water) | 20 mg/mL |
Metabolic & growth
| Product | Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesamorelin | 10 mg | 1 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Tesamorelin | 20 mg | 2 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin | 5 mg + 5 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL (of the blend) |
| IGF-1 LR3 | 1 mg | 2 mL | 0.5 mg/mL |
Advanced blends
| Product | Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOW (GHK-Cu + BPC-157 + TB-500) | 70 mg | 3 mL | ~23.3 mg/mL |
| KLOW (BPC-157 + GHK-Cu + TB-500 + KPV) | 80 mg | 3 mL | ~26.7 mg/mL |
Hormonal
| Product | Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kisspeptin-10 | 10 mg | 3 mL | 3.33 mg/mL |
| PT-141 | 10 mg | 1 mL | 10 mg/mL |
| Oxytocin Acetate | 10 mg | 10 mL | 1 mg/mL |
Neurotropic / cognitive
| Product | Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamax | 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| Semax | 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
| Selank | 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
Storage & stability
- Refrigerate reconstituted vials (typically 2–8 °C) and keep them out of light.
- Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles, which can degrade peptides.
- Keep the lyophilized (unreconstituted) powder cold and dark until you're ready to use it.
- Label every vial with its concentration and reconstitution date.
A note on quality
Accurate research starts with a known, verified material. Every VNG reference material ships with a lot-matched Certificate of Analysis (COA) documenting identity and purity, so the concentration you calculate reflects what's actually in the vial.
References & resources
Related reference materials
VNG Research Team
VNG Labs supplies analytical-grade reference materials with lot-matched Certificates of Analysis. Our write-ups are neutral, source-cited references for qualified and independent researchers.
More from the research blogResearch use only. Not for human consumption or veterinary use. Sold exclusively to qualified researchers for in vitro and laboratory research. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Refrigerate upon receipt. Keep in dark environment.