Frequently Asked Questions

Research Peptide FAQ

Everything you need to know about ordering, storing, verifying and working with AVREA research peptides. Can't find your answer? Contact our science team directly.

Legal & Compliance

The legality of research peptides varies by jurisdiction. In most EU member states and the USA, unscheduled synthetic peptides may be purchased for laboratory research purposes. They are not approved pharmaceutical products and may not be sold or used for human therapeutic purposes.

Notable exceptions include: some peptides are controlled substances in specific countries (e.g., melanotan-II is prohibited in the UK; AICAR has been banned by some sporting authorities). Always verify the specific regulatory status of each compound in your country before ordering.

AVREA Laboratories sells peptides exclusively for qualified research use. By placing an order, buyers confirm that the compounds will be used only for legitimate in vitro or preclinical research in compliance with local regulations. We do not accept orders where we have reason to believe the intended use is not research-related.

"Research Use Only" (RUO) is a regulatory designation indicating that a product is intended for scientific investigation in a laboratory setting. It means the product:

  • Has not been evaluated or approved for diagnostic or therapeutic use in humans or animals by regulatory agencies (EMA, FDA, MHRA)
  • Does not have established safety or efficacy data for clinical application
  • Is sold to qualified researchers, not the general public for personal use
  • Must be used in accordance with institutional research protocols (IRB/IACUC approval where applicable)

This designation does not mean the compound is inherently dangerous — it means it exists outside the pharmaceutical approval pathway.

We do not require institutional affiliation for all orders, but we do require buyers to confirm that they are a qualified researcher and that the compounds will be used for legitimate research purposes. For orders requesting full COA documentation with raw analytical data, we request a research institution email address for verification.

We reserve the right to decline orders where the intended research use cannot be reasonably established.

AVREA peptides are produced in an ISO 9001-certified facility using validated solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) processes. Our production partners apply GMP-aligned quality standards: validated synthesis equipment, in-process quality controls, batch documentation, and environmental monitoring.

Full pharmaceutical-grade GMP certification (EU GMP/ICH Q7) is not claimed, as this designation applies specifically to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for licensed medicinal products. Research-use peptides are manufactured to the highest achievable quality standards while remaining outside the formal pharmaceutical manufacturing framework.

Ordering & Payment

Browse our Research Peptide Catalog, select the compound(s) and quantity, and add to cart. Proceed to checkout, where you'll confirm shipping details and select a payment method. You'll receive an order confirmation by email. Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days.

We accept the following payment methods:

  • Bank Transfer (SEPA): Preferred for EU customers. Zero fees, same-day or next-day processing.
  • International Wire Transfer: Available for non-EU orders. SWIFT/BIC details provided at checkout.
  • Cryptocurrency: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USDC stablecoin. Payments confirmed on-chain.

Credit and debit card processing is not currently available. Orders are dispatched after payment confirmation.

There is no minimum order. You may order a single vial of any available compound. Volume discounts apply automatically:

  • 5–9 vials of the same compound: 10% discount
  • 10+ vials of the same compound: 15% discount
  • Institutional bulk orders (50+ vials): contact us for custom pricing

Orders can be cancelled or modified within 12 hours of placement, provided they have not yet entered the dispatch process. Contact us immediately via the contact form with your order number. Once a shipment has been dispatched, it cannot be recalled — in this case, a return or replacement may be arranged if the products are received in unsatisfactory condition.

Shipping & Delivery

All AVREA peptide shipments use temperature-controlled packaging designed for 48–72 hours of thermal protection:

  • Insulated liner: Foam or foil-bubble insulation maintains internal temperature
  • Gel packs: Pharmaceutical-grade gel packs pre-conditioned to 2–8°C
  • Thermal indicator: Included in each shipment to confirm cold-chain was maintained in transit
  • Express shipping: Standard on all orders to minimise transit time

Upon receipt, check the thermal indicator. If it shows temperature excursion, photograph it and contact us immediately before using the compound.

DestinationTypical TransitService
EU (Western Europe)2–4 business daysExpress courier
EU (Eastern Europe)3–6 business daysExpress courier
UK3–5 business daysExpress, with customs
USA / Canada5–9 business daysInternational express
Australia / Asia7–12 business daysInternational express

Delays may occur due to customs clearance. International orders outside the EU ship with appropriate customs documentation. Customs duties/taxes are the buyer's responsibility.

Yes. All orders are shipped in plain, unmarked outer packaging. No product names, brand markings, or descriptions appear on the outer box. The return address uses a neutral identifier. This is standard practice for research chemical suppliers to protect researcher privacy and simplify customs processes.

In the event of a customs seizure for an order of compounds that are legal to import in the destination country, contact us with your order number and any customs documentation received. We review each case individually. For orders to jurisdictions where research peptides are clearly legal research reagents, we will offer a reshipping arrangement where possible.

We do not ship to jurisdictions where the specific compounds ordered are explicitly prohibited. It is the buyer's responsibility to verify import legality before ordering.

Quality & Certificate of Analysis

Every AVREA batch is tested using multiple independent analytical methods:

  • RP-HPLC (Reversed-Phase HPLC): C18 column, gradient elution with 0.1% TFA/acetonitrile. UV detection at 210–220 nm. Quantifies purity as area percentage. Primary purity method.
  • ESI-MS (Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry): Confirms molecular identity by measuring protonated molecular ion (MH⁺) and comparing to theoretical mass. Detects sequence errors and adducts.
  • Karl Fischer Titration: Measures residual water content (%). Ensures moisture is within specification for lyophilised products.
  • ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry): Quantifies trace heavy metal contamination (Pb, Cd, As, Hg) to EPA 200.8 method.
  • LAL Chromogenic Assay (selected batches): Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate assay for bacterial endotoxins in research-critical batches.

All testing is performed by an independent ISO-accredited contract laboratory. We do not self-certify purity.

Click the "Request COA" button on any compound product page, or submit a request via the contact form. Include:

  • Compound name and batch number (printed on the vial label)
  • Your order number
  • Research institution email address (preferred for full analytical data)

COA documents are sent within 24 business hours. The full COA includes: HPLC chromatogram, mass spectrum, purity result, water content, heavy metals data, batch details, and third-party laboratory identification.

All AVREA peptides are released with a minimum purity of ≥98.0% by RP-HPLC. The actual purity of each batch is shown on the product page and is typically 99.0–99.7%. Batches that fail to meet the 98% threshold are rejected and not sold.

The batch purity data on our product pages reflects the actual third-party tested result for the current in-stock batch, not a minimum specification or marketing claim.

If you have independent analytical data (HPLC, MS) indicating that the received product does not match the stated specifications, contact us immediately with your order details and the analytical report. We will investigate and, where the discrepancy is confirmed, provide a replacement batch or refund. We take product integrity seriously — any confirmed specification failure triggers a batch quarantine and investigation of the entire production lot.

Storage & Handling

Immediately upon receipt:

  1. Check the thermal indicator (cold-chain monitor) in the shipment
  2. Place lyophilised vials in the freezer at −20°C for long-term storage, or refrigerator at 2–8°C for short-term use
  3. Keep vials in their original sealed condition until use
  4. Store away from light and moisture

Do not: store on bench at room temperature, open vials prematurely, or store near aromatic solvents.

The recommended solvent for most research peptides is bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol in water for injection). The benzyl alcohol inhibits microbial growth, extending the stability of the reconstituted solution to 28+ days at 2–8°C.

Some hydrophobic peptides (e.g., GHRP-2, HGH Fragment 176-191) may require 0.1% acetic acid in sterile water for initial dissolution. For cell culture work, sterile PBS (pH 7.4) is often preferred.

For a full guide to solvent selection, concentration calculation, and step-by-step reconstitution protocol, see our Peptide Reconstitution Guide →

General stability windows for reconstituted peptides stored at 2–8°C:

  • Bacteriostatic water: 28–30 days (most peptides)
  • Sterile saline or water: 5–7 days
  • 0.1% acetic acid: 7–14 days
  • Frozen aliquots at −20°C: 3–6 months (single freeze, no thaw-refreeze)

These are conservative general guidelines. Compound-specific stability data is provided on each compound page and in the COA.

Mechanical agitation creates foam and introduces air bubbles. Many peptides have amphiphilic domains (hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions) that accumulate at the air-water interface. At this interface, shear forces and surface tension disruptions cause peptide unfolding and aggregation — permanently reducing purity and bioactivity.

Instead: inject solvent slowly along the inner vial wall, then gently swirl the vial (circular motion) until dissolved. If the peptide doesn't dissolve after 2–3 minutes of gentle swirling, refer to the troubleshooting section of our protocol guide.

Science & Compounds

Both peptides and proteins are polymers of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. The distinction is primarily one of size and structural complexity:

  • Peptides: Typically <50 amino acid residues, MW <5 kDa. Usually linear, minimal secondary structure. Can be synthesised chemically (solid-phase peptide synthesis, SPPS).
  • Polypeptides: 50–100 residues, MW 5–10 kDa. May have secondary structure (α-helices, β-sheets).
  • Proteins: >100 residues, MW >10 kDa. Complex tertiary/quaternary structure. Produced by recombinant expression systems.

Research peptides in our catalog range from hexapeptides (GHRP-2 at 873 Da) to longer sequences like Retatrutide (~4916 Da with modifications). All are synthesised by SPPS and are chemically defined — not biologically derived.

HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) separates compounds in a mixture based on their differential affinity for a stationary phase (column packing) and a mobile phase (solvent). For peptide purity testing, reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) is standard:

  • Column: C18 silica packing (octadecyl chains — nonpolar stationary phase)
  • Mobile phase: Gradient of water + 0.1% TFA → acetonitrile + 0.1% TFA
  • Detection: UV at 210–220 nm (peptide bond absorption)

The peptide elutes as a peak; all other components (synthesis impurities, truncated sequences, deletions) elute at different times. Purity is calculated as the target peak area divided by the total peak area × 100%. A 99.3% purity result means <0.7% of the sample is anything other than the target compound.

Research peptides are produced by Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS), developed by Robert Bruce Merrifield (Nobel Prize 1984). The process:

  1. Attachment: C-terminal amino acid attached to a resin (solid support) via its carboxyl group
  2. Deprotection: Removal of N-terminus protecting group (Fmoc or Boc)
  3. Coupling: Next amino acid (with protected side chain) is added using coupling reagents (HATU, DIC)
  4. Repeat: Steps 2–3 repeated for each amino acid in sequence
  5. Cleavage: Completed peptide cleaved from resin with TFA cocktail
  6. Purification: Crude peptide purified by preparative RP-HPLC
  7. Lyophilisation: Purified peptide freeze-dried to stable powder

The final product is a chemically defined, synthetic compound — no biological source material is involved.

AVREA maintains detailed research guides for key compounds in our catalog:

For primary literature, we recommend:

  • PubMed (NIH) — free access to peer-reviewed research
  • UniProt — protein/peptide sequence database
  • DrugBank — pharmacology and mechanism data

Still have a question?

Our science team typically responds within 24 hours on working days.

Contact Science Team →

Research Resources