Peptide Glossary

The common practice of discarding an opened multi-dose vial 28 days after it is first punctured, unless the manufacturer gives a different date. Read more in BAC water storage and shelf life.

A dilute, sterile acid solution that some product labels name as the diluent for peptides that dissolve poorly in plain water. It is only used when the product labeling calls for it.

A small pad soaked in isopropyl alcohol, used to wipe vial stoppers before a needle goes through them.

The building blocks of peptides and proteins. Amino acids joined by peptide bonds form a peptide chain.

Working in a way that keeps germs out: clean hands, a clean surface, wiped stoppers, and never touching a needle or stopper once it has been cleaned.

A way of describing how much water goes into a vial for a given amount of powder, such as 2 mL for a 5 mg vial. See the BAC water to peptide ratio chart for common pairings.

Sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol added as a preservative. The preservative holds back bacterial growth, so the same vial can be entered more than once. It is the liquid most often used to dissolve peptide powder. Our guide explains what bacteriostatic water is in more detail.

The preservative in bacteriostatic water, present at 0.9%. It is what makes the water “bacteriostatic” and allows a vial to be used more than once. It does not change the amount of peptide in a vial or any of the calculator math.

How much peptide is dissolved in each milliliter of liquid: the total mg in the vial divided by the mL of water added. A 5 mg vial mixed with 2 mL is 2.5 mg/mL. Every other number in the BAC water for peptides calculator comes from this one.

Any liquid used to dissolve a powder or thin out a solution, also called a reconstitution solution. Bacteriostatic water, sterile water, and saline are all diluents. See reconstitution solution vs bacteriostatic water for how they differ.

How much liquid goes into the syringe for a chosen amount of peptide, shown in mL or units. It equals the amount divided by the concentration. The guide to checking peptide calculator math works through it by hand.

Each time a liquid is frozen and then thawed. Repeated cycles can break down some peptides, which is why mixed vials are normally kept in the refrigerator rather than the freezer.

A class of compounds that act on the GLP-1 receptor, the same receptor used by the natural hormone GLP-1. Semaglutide and liraglutide are examples. See the semaglutide calculator.

A compound that prompts the body to release growth hormone. The group includes GHRPs such as ipamorelin and GHRH analogs such as sermorelin and CJC-1295. See the ipamorelin calculator.

A unit based on biological activity instead of weight, used on some products such as HGH and HCG. How IU relate to mg differs from one substance to the next, so that figure always comes from the product label. The HGH calculator works directly in IU.

Codes printed on a vial that identify its production batch and the last day it should be used unopened. A vial missing either one gives you no way to judge its age. The best BAC water for peptides guide covers what else a good label shows.

Freeze-drying. Water is removed from a peptide solution under cold and vacuum, leaving a dry powder or “cake” that is more stable to ship and store. Mixing one for the first time? Start with peptide reconstitution for beginners.

How much peptide sits in one syringe unit after mixing: the concentration in mcg/mL divided by 100. With 5 mg in 2 mL, each unit holds 25 mcg.

One thousandth of a milligram, so 1 mg equals 1,000 mcg. Small amounts are usually written in mcg, which makes converting between the two one of the most common steps. The mg to mcg conversion chart lists common values.

One thousandth of a gram. Peptide vials are labeled by their total content in milligrams, such as 5 mg or 10 mg.

A unit of liquid volume, the same as one cubic centimeter (cc). BAC water is measured in mL, and on a U-100 syringe 1 mL equals 100 units.

The day a peptide vial was reconstituted. Write it on the vial label as soon as you mix, because storage limits count from that day. The free Peptide Shot Tracker can keep a private record of it too.

A larger syringe, usually 1 to 3 mL, used to draw bacteriostatic water and add it to a peptide vial.

A vial labeled for more than one entry. It has to contain a preservative, which is why bacteriostatic water can be used this way and plain sterile water cannot.

A number that describes how thick a needle is. The higher the number, the thinner the needle, so a 31G needle is thinner than a 27G needle.

Sterile water with 0.9% sodium chloride (salt) dissolved in it. It shares “0.9%” on the label with BAC water, but there the number means salt, not a preservative. The two are compared side by side in BAC water vs saline for peptides.

A short chain of amino acids, smaller than a protein. Research peptides are made in labs and usually sold as freeze-dried powder. Browse every compound in the peptide library.

One vial that holds more than one peptide, such as the GLOW blend of GHK-Cu, BPC-157, and TB-500. After mixing, each peptide has its own concentration, and the glow blend calculator shows all of them.

Free of pyrogens, which are substances that can cause fever. Bacteriostatic water and sterile water for injection are both manufactured to be pyrogen-free.

Adding a liquid to a freeze-dried powder so it dissolves into a solution that can be measured. Our step-by-step guide covers how to reconstitute peptides.

The usual storage range for mixed peptides and opened BAC water, about 36–46°F, unless the label says otherwise. A standard household refrigerator sits in this range.

A label meaning a product is sold for laboratory research, not as an approved medicine. Most peptides and many BAC water vials sold online carry it.

The rubber seal on top of a vial. A needle passes through it, so the vial never has to be opened. It is wiped with an alcohol prep pad before each entry.

A puncture-resistant container for used needles and syringes. It is one of the basics on our peptide reconstitution supplies list.

A vial meant to be entered once, with anything left over discarded. Sterile water for injection and preservative-free saline are labeled single-dose.

How easily a powder dissolves in a liquid. Most peptides dissolve readily in BAC water. A few dissolve slowly and need more gentle swirling, or a different diluent named on the label.

Sterile water with nothing added: no preservative and no salt. It is labeled single-dose, so whatever is left after the first use is thrown away. See how it compares in bacteriostatic water vs sterile water.

The markings on an insulin syringe. On a U-100 syringe, 100 units equal 1 mL, so each unit is 0.01 mL. The full U-100 syringe units to mL chart covers every common amount.

A small syringe marked in units, with 100 units per mL. Common sizes are 0.3 mL (30 units), 0.5 mL (50 units), and 1 mL (100 units). All of the units math on this site assumes a U-100 syringe.

A small sealed glass container with a rubber stopper under a flip-off cap. Peptide powder and BAC water both come in vials, and BAC water vials range from about 1 mL to 30 mL. Compare the options in bacteriostatic water vial sizes.

A small sticker on a vial showing what is in it: the compound, the amount, the BAC water added, and the date it was mixed. Our free vial label maker prints 1" × 0.5" labels, 160 to a sheet.