Reconstitution
Dissolving a lyophilised peptide powder in sterile liquid before administration. The liquid should be directed gently down the vial side without vigorous shaking to prevent peptide denaturation. Once reconstituted, peptide solutions typically require refrigeration and have a limited shelf life.
Technical Context
Reconstitution technique affects product quality: liquid (bacteriostatic water or sterile water for injection) should be directed gently down the inner vial wall, not squirted directly onto the lyophilised cake (which can cause foaming and peptide denaturation at the air-liquid interface). Gentle swirling is acceptable but vigorous shaking should be avoided (mechanical stress can cause aggregation). Reconstitution time varies: well-formulated peptide cakes typically dissolve in 1-5 minutes. Visual inspection after reconstitution should confirm: complete dissolution (no visible particles), appropriate colour (typically colourless to slightly yellow for most peptides), and appropriate clarity (clear to slightly opalescent). Reconstituted peptide stability (in-use shelf-life): with bacteriostatic water — typically up to 28 days refrigerated; with sterile water — use immediately or within 24 hours. Patient education on proper reconstitution technique is critical for self-administered lyophilised peptide products.