How to track peptide vials, lot numbers and expiry dates
For every vial, record eight things: name, strength, lot number, expiration date, date opened or reconstituted, volume of liquid added, storage conditions and amount remaining. With those eight fields you can always tell which vial to use next, what its concentration is and when it will run out or expire.
The vial record
| Field | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Name | The label |
| Strength | The label, for example 5 mg |
| Lot number | The label |
| Expiration date | The label |
| Status | Sealed or reconstituted |
| Date reconstituted | The day you mixed it |
| Liquid added | What you measured, for example 2 mL |
| Storage conditions | The label or your pharmacist |
| Purchase cost | Your receipt |
| Remaining | Strength minus what you have logged |
Sealed and reconstituted are two different states
A sealed vial of dry powder and a vial that has had liquid added usually have different storage instructions and different usable periods. The printed expiration date applies to the sealed product. Once a vial is reconstituted, follow the instructions on the label or from your pharmacist for how to store it and how long it can be used.
Because the two states differ, your record should say which one each vial is in and the date it changed.
Write the date on the vial too
An app or spreadsheet is the record, but the vial in the fridge should carry the essentials as well: the date it was reconstituted and the concentration. A small label avoids picking up the wrong one.
Work out the concentration once
The concentration is fixed when you add the liquid: strength ÷ volume. A 5 mg vial with 2 mL added is 2.5 mg/mL for the rest of its life. Record it once and you will not need to redo the sum. The reconstitution calculator gives the concentration and the units for a dose.
Know when a vial will run out
Doses per vial = strength ÷ dose. Divide that by doses per week for the number of weeks.
A 10 mg vial at 500 mcg a dose holds 20 doses. At five doses a week that is four weeks. The vial duration calculator also gives the date and the cost per dose.
Check the result against the usable period of the reconstituted vial. If the vial would take longer to finish than it can be kept, that is a conversation to have with your pharmacist.
Why the lot number is worth recording
The lot number identifies the production batch. If you ever need to tell a clinician or a supplier exactly which batch you were using on a given date, the log has the answer.
Keeping it in an app
PepVault's vial inventory holds these details for each vial. Active vials sit on one shelf with a bar showing how much is left, and empty ones move to an archive, so the record of old lots is kept.
Common questions
How long does a reconstituted vial last?
It depends on the product. Follow the label or ask your pharmacist. Do not rely on a general rule from the internet.
How should vials be stored?
As the label or your pharmacist says. Record those conditions with the vial so they are in front of you.
Should I keep records of empty vials?
Yes. An archive of past vials, with lot numbers and dates, completes the dose history.
This guide is about record keeping and unit arithmetic. It is not medical advice. See the medical disclaimer.
