How to reconstitute GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu comes in more sizes than most peptides: 5 mg and 10 mg vials, and 50 mg and 100 mg vials. The big vials are mixed stronger, so each unit holds more and small amounts get hard to measure. If the amounts you work with are small, a small vial is easier.
- 5 mg vial: add 1 mL of bacteriostatic water. That makes 5 mg/mL, so each unit on a U-100 insulin syringe holds 50 mcg, and 1 mg is 20 units.
- 10 mg vial: add 2 mL of bacteriostatic water. That makes 5 mg/mL, so each unit on a U-100 insulin syringe holds 50 mcg, and 1 mg is 20 units.
- 50 mg vial: add 3 mL of bacteriostatic water. That makes 16.67 mg/mL, so each unit on a U-100 insulin syringe holds 166.7 mcg, and 2 mg is 12 units.
- 100 mg vial: add 3 mL of bacteriostatic water. That makes 33.33 mg/mL, so each unit on a U-100 insulin syringe holds 333.3 mcg, and 5 mg is 15 units.
Get this chart as a printable PDF
The amounts are examples for the arithmetic, not recommendations. For research and education only.
GHK-Cu units chart
What each amount comes to on a 1 mL (U-100) insulin syringe, with the water used in the video. Using a different amount of water? The calculator works it out.
5 mg vial + 1 mL bacteriostatic water
5 mg/mL concentration50 mcg in each unit
| Amount | Units (U-100) | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 500 mcg | 10 units | 0.1 mL |
| 1 mg | 20 units | 0.2 mL |
| 1.5 mg | 30 units | 0.3 mL |
| 2 mg | 40 units | 0.4 mL |
| 2.5 mg | 50 units | 0.5 mL |
| 3 mg | 60 units | 0.6 mL |
| 3.5 mg | 70 units | 0.7 mL |
| 4 mg | 80 units | 0.8 mL |
| 4.5 mg | 90 units | 0.9 mL |
| 5 mg | 100 units | 1 mL |
10 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water
5 mg/mL concentration50 mcg in each unit
| Amount | Units (U-100) | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 500 mcg | 10 units | 0.1 mL |
| 1 mg | 20 units | 0.2 mL |
| 1.5 mg | 30 units | 0.3 mL |
| 2 mg | 40 units | 0.4 mL |
| 2.5 mg | 50 units | 0.5 mL |
| 3 mg | 60 units | 0.6 mL |
| 3.5 mg | 70 units | 0.7 mL |
| 4 mg | 80 units | 0.8 mL |
| 4.5 mg | 90 units | 0.9 mL |
| 5 mg | 100 units | 1 mL |
50 mg vial + 3 mL bacteriostatic water
16.67 mg/mL concentration166.7 mcg in each unit
| Amount | Units (U-100) | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mg | 6 units | 0.06 mL |
| 2 mg | 12 units | 0.12 mL |
| 3 mg | 18 units | 0.18 mL |
| 4 mg | 24 units | 0.24 mL |
| 5 mg | 30 units | 0.3 mL |
| 6 mg | 36 units | 0.36 mL |
| 7 mg | 42 units | 0.42 mL |
| 8 mg | 48 units | 0.48 mL |
| 9 mg | 54 units | 0.54 mL |
| 10 mg | 60 units | 0.6 mL |
100 mg vial + 3 mL bacteriostatic water
33.33 mg/mL concentration333.3 mcg in each unit
| Amount | Units (U-100) | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mg | 3 units | 0.03 mL |
| 2 mg | 6 units | 0.06 mL |
| 3 mg | 9 units | 0.09 mL |
| 4 mg | 12 units | 0.12 mL |
| 5 mg | 15 units | 0.15 mL |
| 8 mg | 24 units | 0.24 mL |
| 10 mg | 30 units | 0.3 mL |
| 12 mg | 36 units | 0.36 mL |
| 15 mg | 45 units | 0.45 mL |
| 20 mg | 60 units | 0.6 mL |
Step by step
The same steps as the video, in writing.
- Check the label.
The vial says how much powder is in it: 5 mg, 10 mg, 50 mg or 100 mg.
- Draw the water.
Use bacteriostatic water: 1 mL for the 5 mg vial; 2 mL for the 10 mg vial; 3 mL for the 50 mg vial; 3 mL for the 100 mg vial. If it's more than 1 mL, a 3 mL syringe does it in one draw.
- Add it slowly.
Let the water run down the inside wall of the vial, then swirl gently until the powder has dissolved. Don't shake it.
- Write the strength on the vial.
For the 5 mg vial that's 5 mg/mL, or 50 mcg per unit, plus the date you mixed it.
- Find your amount.
Read the units from the chart, or put your own numbers in the calculator. Then check it backwards: units × mcg per unit should give the amount you wanted.
On Peptide Insights
The GHK-Cu overview
For what GHK-Cu is and what research has looked at, here is Matthew's full video on Peptide Insights, his main channel. 9:20 long.
Free printable PDF
Get the GHK-Cu chart as a printable page.
Every vial size on one sheet, to keep next to the vials. Plus the reader kit: a lab math worksheet, a lab log and a COA checklist.
This chart is one of 168 in the Reconstitution Encyclopedia: 67 peptides and blends, every common vial size, mixed step by step.
Questions
How much bacteriostatic water do you add to a 5 mg GHK-Cu vial?
In the Reconstitution Insights video, Matthew adds 1 mL. That makes 5 mg/mL, so each unit on a U-100 insulin syringe holds 50 mcg. You can use more or less water: the amount of peptide in the vial stays the same, only what each unit holds changes. The calculator works it out for any amount.
How much bacteriostatic water do you add to a 10 mg GHK-Cu vial?
In the Reconstitution Insights video, Matthew adds 2 mL. That makes 5 mg/mL, so each unit on a U-100 insulin syringe holds 50 mcg. You can use more or less water: the amount of peptide in the vial stays the same, only what each unit holds changes. The calculator works it out for any amount.
How many units do I draw for an amount of GHK-Cu?
Divide the amount you want (in mcg) by what one unit holds. For example, 1 mg from the 5 mg vial mixed with 1 mL is 20 units (0.2 mL); 1 mg from the 10 mg vial mixed with 2 mL is 20 units (0.2 mL); 2 mg from the 50 mg vial mixed with 3 mL is 12 units (0.12 mL); 5 mg from the 100 mg vial mixed with 3 mL is 15 units (0.15 mL). The chart above lists the other amounts.
What is a unit on an insulin syringe?
U-100 insulin syringes are marked in units: 100 units is 1 mL, so 1 unit is 0.01 mL whatever the size of the syringe. A 0.3 mL syringe holds 30 units and a 0.5 mL syringe holds 50.
Is this dosing advice?
No. The amounts are examples for the arithmetic, not recommendations. This page is for research and education only and isn't medical advice.
