Storage and handling of lyophilized material

Temperature, light and moisture: keeping research material stable on the shelf.

Why lyophilized

Lyophilization removes water by freeze-drying, leaving a dry cake or powder. Without water, hydrolysis and microbial growth slow dramatically, which is why lyophilized material is stable enough to ship at room temperature.

Long-term storage

For storage beyond a few weeks, keep sealed vials at −20 °C or colder. Avoid frost-free freezers that cycle temperature; a stable cold is better than a colder, fluctuating one.

Light and moisture

Keep vials in their box or another opaque container. Before opening a cold vial, let it reach room temperature in a desiccator or sealed bag so moisture does not condense on the material.

Labeling

Record the lot number, date received and storage location in your lab notebook. The lot number is what links your work back to its certificate.