Reference materials often travel a long way before reaching your bench. Understanding the cold chain helps you judge whether a shipment arrived in good condition.
Why lyophilized material travels well
Because freeze-dried powder is stable at ambient temperatures for short periods, brief transit at room temperature is generally tolerated. This is one of the practical advantages of the lyophilized form.
Inspect on arrival
- Check that vials are intact, sealed and correctly labelled.
- Confirm the lot numbers match the accompanying documentation.
- Look for an intact cake or powder — a peptide that has visibly melted and re-solidified may have seen excessive heat.
Store promptly
Once inspected, move material into appropriate cold storage without delay. The sooner a shipment is stabilised, the longer its usable life.
Keep the paperwork together
File the COA and shipping records alongside your inventory entry so future users can trace the batch history.
Research use only.