Editorial tool

Peptide reconstitution calculator

Input vial size, bacteriostatic water volume, and target dose. Output: concentration in mcg/ml and units on a U-100 insulin syringe. Pure reconstitution arithmetic. Editorial commentary only. Research use only. PeptideClear does not recommend any dose for any person.

Result

Concentration: 2,500 mg/ml (2500 mcg/ml)

Each U-100 unit = 25.0 mcg

Target dose: 10.0 units on a U-100 insulin syringe

U-100 insulin syringe standard: 100 units equals 1ml. Bacteriostatic water is typically 0.9% benzyl alcohol in sterile water for injection. This tool performs arithmetic only and makes no recommendation about the appropriateness of any dose for any person or research application.

What is reconstitution?

Lyophilised (freeze-dried) peptides are supplied as a dry powder in sealed vials. Reconstitution is the process of adding a sterile solvent, most commonly bacteriostatic water, to dissolve the powder and create a liquid solution of known concentration. Once dissolved, the solution is typically stored refrigerated and drawn up in small measured volumes for research use. The volume of solvent added is the primary variable that determines the concentration of the resulting solution: using less solvent produces a more concentrated solution, and using more solvent produces a more dilute solution.

What U-100 syringe means

A U-100 insulin syringe is designed around a standard of 100 international units (IU) of insulin per millilitre. The syringe barrel is graduated in units, where each unit equals 0.01ml. When this syringe is used to measure a reconstituted peptide solution (not insulin), the unit markings represent fixed volumes: 10 units on a U-100 syringe equals 0.10ml, 20 units equals 0.20ml, and so on. This makes U-100 syringes a practical measuring tool for small-volume liquid handling in research settings. The calculator above converts a target mcg dose into units on this scale based on the concentration of your reconstituted solution.

Compound-specific notes

· GHK-Cu and other copper peptides may require phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) rather than bacteriostatic water as the reconstitution solvent. Bacteriostatic water can interact with copper complexes. Solvent selection for copper peptides is a research-level decision outside the scope of this arithmetic tool.
· Some peptides (for example, certain AOD variants and CJC-1295 without DAC) are sometimes reconstituted using dilute acetic acid solution rather than bacteriostatic water to aid solubility. Again, solvent choice is a research-context decision not covered by this tool.
· The arithmetic in this tool is identical regardless of the compound. Concentration = vial mg divided by ml of solvent. Units per draw = target mcg divided by (concentration mcg/ml divided by 100). The tool does not encode any compound-specific information.
· Storage: reconstituted peptide solutions are typically stored refrigerated (2-8 degrees C) and used within 28 days, though this varies by compound and solvent. Storage guidance is outside the scope of this tool.

Reconstitution kit: what you need

Bacteriostatic water, U-100 insulin syringes, alcohol swabs, and a sterile surface are the standard components for research peptide reconstitution in the UK. Our editorial guide lists the UK suppliers stocking each component.

View the reconstitution kit guide

The arithmetic, step by step

1. Concentration (mg/ml) = vial mg divided by bacteriostatic water ml
2. Concentration (mcg/ml) = concentration (mg/ml) multiplied by 1,000 (there are 1,000 mcg in 1mg)
3. mcg per U-100 unit = concentration (mcg/ml) divided by 100 (a U-100 syringe has 100 units per ml)
4. Units to draw = target dose (mcg) divided by mcg per unit

Example: 5mg vial into 2ml bacteriostatic water gives 2.5mg/ml or 2,500mcg/ml. Each U-100 unit therefore contains 25mcg. A 250mcg target dose requires 10 units.

Research use only

This calculator is editorial commentary on peptide concentration arithmetic. PeptideClear does not recommend any specific dose for any specific person. No output from this tool constitutes medical advice, a dosing protocol, or a treatment recommendation. Decisions about peptide use are between you and a qualified prescriber. Research peptides sold under a research-use-only framing in the UK are not licensed for human or animal consumption. PeptideClear is a comparison and information service. We are not a pharmacy, not a clinic, and not a prescriber. Always consult a GMC-registered clinician before using any substance that may affect your health.