A compound that leaves the supplier at 99% purity can degrade in the laboratory if it is stored badly. Heat, light, moisture and air are the usual causes. This guide sets out storage practice for the two formats Chemyo supplies, liquid solutions and research powders, plus a few compound-specific notes. Always follow any storage information on the product label or page.
The four enemies of stability
- Heat speeds up almost every degradation reaction. Store at a stable room temperature or cooler, away from radiators, windows and equipment exhaust.
- Light, especially UV, can break down light-sensitive molecules. Keep amber bottles in their box or in a closed cabinet.
- Moisture causes clumping and hydrolysis in powders. Close containers immediately after use and store powders with a desiccant.
- Oxygen drives oxidation. Keep containers tightly sealed and avoid leaving large air spaces in partly used containers for long periods.
Storing liquid solutions
Most SARM solutions use PEG-400 as the carrier. PEG-400 is stable at room temperature and becomes viscous when cold. Practical points:
- Store upright with the cap tight, at a controlled room temperature or in a refrigerator if the label allows.
- Avoid repeated freezing and thawing, which can cause the compound to come out of solution.
- If a solution has been cold, let it return to room temperature and mix it gently before sampling.
- Suspensions such as the 5-Amino-1MQ suspension must be shaken before every sample, because the solid settles.
- Use a clean measuring tool each time, such as a 1 ml dropper, to avoid contaminating the bottle.
Storing research powders
- Keep in the original sealed container, inside a second airtight container with a desiccant sachet.
- For longer-term storage, a refrigerator or freezer slows degradation. Let the container reach room temperature before opening it, so condensation does not form on the cold powder.
- Weigh quickly and reseal. Hygroscopic compounds such as some salt forms (the ITPP sodium salt, for example) absorb water from air.
- Protect β-carbolines such as 9-ME-BC from light.
Prepared solutions made from powder
Once a powder has been dissolved, its stability depends on the solvent you chose. Label every preparation with compound, concentration, solvent, date and batch number, and record the source batch so results can be traced back to the Chemyo lab reports for that lot.
Labelling and traceability
Good storage is also good record-keeping. Keep the supplier’s batch number with the material at all times. If a result looks unusual months later, the batch number is the only way to check whether the material matched its certificate. Our guide on how to read a SARM COA explains what to look for in that certificate.
Signs a sample may have degraded
- A change of colour compared with the product description (some compounds are naturally coloured: the 5-Amino-1MQ suspension is deep red).
- Crystals or cloudiness in a solution that was clear.
- Clumping or a wet appearance in a powder.
- An unexpected smell.
If in doubt, do not use the material, and contact Chemyo support with the batch number. For the difference in shelf life between formats, see liquid vs powder SARMs.
Research use only. Every Chemyo product is sold for laboratory research. Nothing in this article is dosing, medical or veterinary advice. See the terms and conditions.