Syringe Filter
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dionysos
Advanced Researcher
I am intrigued to see the answers here as Sterility has become the current cause du jour.
Chizikitide-1977
Research Enthusiast
Here is my take on this. As of a few days ago, a number of tests across multiple vendors went public that showed multiple sterility fails for both bacteria and mold. This includes the 2 most popular vendors on this forum (Amo and QSC). There seems to be a very good chance that less than sterile conditions for grey market peptides are quite common.
Some people feel “well if it hasn’t killed me yet, it must be fine”, or point to the fact that they have not heard of any reports of infections in the various peptide communities they participate in. Personally, I disagree with this logic, and it neglects the fact that infection risks can add up over time. Low level fungal infections don’t always appear immediately but can be quite serious and come with many complications. Also, the average peptide user has shifted in the last year or so. When I first started researching semaglutide, most people taking peptides were body builders that were squeamish about steroids. These days a lot of peptide users are overweight (like me), older and with multiple co-morbidities, so both the risk and the consequences of infection for this new group are likely greater than the body builder group. So the fact that we’ve never heard of any reports of serious infection from injection of non-sterile peptides so far doesn’t mean that will continue into the future.
Overall, this is an issue that has only been uncovered recently and it is possible it is not that great of a risk, but at this point we don’t really have all the information and when in doubt it is my preference to err on the side of caution. This is particularly true when the cost is so minimal. Filtering your peptide will cost between $1-$3 for a filter, sterile vial and luer lock syringe. So I think of it as an extra 10-30 dollars of tax per kit, not too bad. Right now, there are multiple threads with people showing off the cases they have for their peptides. My thought is if you can afford 30 bucks for a shiny case, a few extra bucks for some extra protection from a risk we don’t yet fully understand is at least as good of an investment as the case.
Some people feel “well if it hasn’t killed me yet, it must be fine”, or point to the fact that they have not heard of any reports of infections in the various peptide communities they participate in. Personally, I disagree with this logic, and it neglects the fact that infection risks can add up over time. Low level fungal infections don’t always appear immediately but can be quite serious and come with many complications. Also, the average peptide user has shifted in the last year or so. When I first started researching semaglutide, most people taking peptides were body builders that were squeamish about steroids. These days a lot of peptide users are overweight (like me), older and with multiple co-morbidities, so both the risk and the consequences of infection for this new group are likely greater than the body builder group. So the fact that we’ve never heard of any reports of serious infection from injection of non-sterile peptides so far doesn’t mean that will continue into the future.
Overall, this is an issue that has only been uncovered recently and it is possible it is not that great of a risk, but at this point we don’t really have all the information and when in doubt it is my preference to err on the side of caution. This is particularly true when the cost is so minimal. Filtering your peptide will cost between $1-$3 for a filter, sterile vial and luer lock syringe. So I think of it as an extra 10-30 dollars of tax per kit, not too bad. Right now, there are multiple threads with people showing off the cases they have for their peptides. My thought is if you can afford 30 bucks for a shiny case, a few extra bucks for some extra protection from a risk we don’t yet fully understand is at least as good of an investment as the case.
moonpies4misfits
Advanced Researcher
Do you have a good resource for sterile empty vials?
Chizikitide-1977
Research Enthusiast
I'm actually switching to pens and plan to filter into the cartridges. So I don't have a source I've bought from that I can recommend, unfortunately. Maybe someone else will chime in.
I did see someone on one of the group buy servers selling syringe filter kits (1 filter, 1 lure lock and 1 vial, all individually wrapped) for a few bucks a while ago, but I can't track that down. I thought that was pretty clever and convenient. If I find that again I'll share a link.
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moonpies4misfits
Advanced Researcher
I've actually got an order of filters on the way from PepTest so all I need now are the vials. I know they're on Amazon but I'd like to avoid them and also avoid having to get a case of 100 if possible 😂.
Thank you for your detailed opinion.
Chizikitide-1977
Research Enthusiast
Westend sells them individually, but a bit steeper (3 bucks each).
Do syringe filters kill bacteria & mold? Or just try to collect/filter particles?
moonpies4misfits
Advanced Researcher
The filter pores are so tiny that they trap bacteria and fungus. You want a .22 micron filter
Chizikitide-1977
Research Enthusiast
They don't kill them, but remove them from the solution. I'm sure it's not perfect, but it helps sterilze the peptide or reduce risk anyway (ie harm reduction, not complete safety). I had another thread on this with some more background in the back and forth.
Also check out this video on the process
Passing a “sterility” test does not mean that a product is sterile, it only means that the product passed the test. It’s important to understand what these tests don’t cover and then decide if filtering is merited.
Jano follows USP <61> test protocol (TAMC/TYMC) which is not a “sterility” test as it is intended for pharmas categorized as “non sterile” (orals, topicals). It is a microbial enumeration test limited to aerobic microbial, yeast, and mold colonies and does not measure other contaminants such as endotoxins.
TrustPointe follows USP <71> test protocol which is a sterility test but they are generally not able to fulfill the full requirements of the test as there is a minimum quantity to be tested based on batch size. Passing or failing a TP sterility test doesn’t necessarily equate to a batch passing or failing if the minimum test quantity is not achieved.
I recommend reading a couple of articles about each test to understand their limitations as well as understanding the risks of subq and IM injections.
I personally see syringe filters as an inexpensive step in harm reduction whether it is truly merited or not.
Jano follows USP <61> test protocol (TAMC/TYMC) which is not a “sterility” test as it is intended for pharmas categorized as “non sterile” (orals, topicals). It is a microbial enumeration test limited to aerobic microbial, yeast, and mold colonies and does not measure other contaminants such as endotoxins.
TrustPointe follows USP <71> test protocol which is a sterility test but they are generally not able to fulfill the full requirements of the test as there is a minimum quantity to be tested based on batch size. Passing or failing a TP sterility test doesn’t necessarily equate to a batch passing or failing if the minimum test quantity is not achieved.
I recommend reading a couple of articles about each test to understand their limitations as well as understanding the risks of subq and IM injections.
I personally see syringe filters as an inexpensive step in harm reduction whether it is truly merited or not.
May I ask- Do recommend using a filter every time you inject into your body? Or, just use it when Constituting? I assume it's only when constituting, right?
Btw, if you filter Only when constituting- then why wouldn't people use filters every time? After all, most people only constitute once/month or so - thus filters are affordable.
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moonpies4misfits
Advanced Researcher
When reconstituting. You need a syringe big enough to hold all of the reconstituted liquid, 2 needles, and a sterile vial.
Peptide Test made a video:
Sorry to ask again: But, can someone send 1 or 2 links on where I can buy a recommended Filter? I assume sterile. Preferably, a kit that includes everything. Thanks! (There are several of them on the internet - I'm just trying to buy one you recommend.)
moonpies4misfits
Advanced Researcher
Lab Supplies — Peptide Test
www.peptidetest.com
Thank you so much. I noticed they are on back-order. Do you have a link to another Filter kit?Lab Supplies — Peptide Test
moonpies4misfits
Advanced Researcher
No, I have really searched another source. This was one that was suggested to me. I do see some on Amazon that are a different size and from my understanding you lose a little more product with those. Everywhere else I found when doing a google search only had them in bulk, which is way more than I need. The 25 I ordered from them should last me longer than my current supply. If you're on pepchat there are a few servers in there that may sell kits.
I know that the Peptide Test ones are PES Syringe Filter .22um 4mm but are back ordered right now so I am going to order and try these sold on walmart but actually coming from Biomed Scientific
Sterile Syringe Filter PES Membrane 13mm Disc Diameter 0.22μm
I know they are 13mm so there will be more product left in the filter when done than the 4mm ones but I have been unable to find any 4mm sterile ones except Peptide Test.
Here are some other ones on Amazon but also being sold by Biomed Scientific but they are 25mm so even more waste.
Sterile Syringe Filters PES 25 mm Diameter 0.22 um Pore Size Individually Packaged 10/pk by Biomed Scientific
As said above even though these are being sold on Amazon or Walmart it looks like they are coming from Biomed Scientific...👍
Sterile Syringe Filter PES Membrane 13mm Disc Diameter 0.22μm
I know they are 13mm so there will be more product left in the filter when done than the 4mm ones but I have been unable to find any 4mm sterile ones except Peptide Test.
Here are some other ones on Amazon but also being sold by Biomed Scientific but they are 25mm so even more waste.
Sterile Syringe Filters PES 25 mm Diameter 0.22 um Pore Size Individually Packaged 10/pk by Biomed Scientific
As said above even though these are being sold on Amazon or Walmart it looks like they are coming from Biomed Scientific...👍
Thank you so much. Sorry to ask but: do you have a link to a syringe that works well with that filter? I just want to be sure it's an exact match. I appreciate it.
These are the products I plan to order from Amazon. The syringe filters are 13mm but I plan to prewet filter with bac, reconstitute pep but use .5ml less bac, filter pep into sterile vial, push remaining .5ml bac through filter to flush any residual peptide.
You just need to make sure whatever you get is Luer Lock Tips...Having said that the items @PopTart listed all look great!
Here are the links for her stuff because when I clicked on it, it only brings up a pic instead of the items on Amazon...so I manually typed them in for ya'll 😉
Syringe Filter
3ml Luer Lock Tip Syringes
100 Pack 27Ga 1.5 Inch Sterile Disposable Injection Needle
Injection Port,with Flip Off Aluminum Cap,Sterile Package (3ml,10)
I am planning on adding at least a couple of her items to my shopping list also.
I believe I saw in video where with the 1.5" needles you can reach all the way to the bottom of the 3ml vials...so no need to invert to get the last drop out. 🙂
Edit...I forgot to mention I had looked at the filter @PopTart is using but I couldn't get that particular one delivered to me until October14 so I went looking for other options.
Here are the links for her stuff because when I clicked on it, it only brings up a pic instead of the items on Amazon...so I manually typed them in for ya'll 😉
Syringe Filter
3ml Luer Lock Tip Syringes
100 Pack 27Ga 1.5 Inch Sterile Disposable Injection Needle
Injection Port,with Flip Off Aluminum Cap,Sterile Package (3ml,10)
I am planning on adding at least a couple of her items to my shopping list also.
I believe I saw in video where with the 1.5" needles you can reach all the way to the bottom of the 3ml vials...so no need to invert to get the last drop out. 🙂
Edit...I forgot to mention I had looked at the filter @PopTart is using but I couldn't get that particular one delivered to me until October14 so I went looking for other options.
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That was kind of you to create the Amazon links. You are quite knowledgeable and we appreciate the info you've given us. Just trying to learn!
I just copied from a post that someone else made and was too lazy to make the links.
I was back on Tisch Scientific’s website last night looking at their 13mm filters/price and realized that they are 10 miles from my office so I may need to pay them a visit.
dionysos
Advanced Researcher
" I am not an EXPERT and don't pretend to be one. I am just a random guy on the internet sharing his opinions. Do your own research. If you follow anything I say you do so at your own RISK. I accept no responsiblility for WHAT you choose to DO! 🤷♂️ "
@PepOhio Your signature line disclaimer is so good!
And it reminds me of one my personal mottos:
Not Insane, Not Responsible
Fonkymonky
Established Member
I am reading all of this with a lot of interest. Thanks for the info and links, very much appreciated 🙂 I would like to order the stuff on Amazon but I wonder if they are trustworthy and if the material is really sterile? Maybe I am being paranoid but I don’t have a lot of experience ordering from Amazon.What I do know is that they’re not a certified medical institute. Your thoughts on this?
dionysos
Advanced Researcher
I think your wariness regarding the purchase of medical supplies from Amazon is justified.
The Amazon brand has a degree of credibility, and, to the credulous it lends an aura of legitimacy to the vendors on the platform.
It is unwarranted. Amazon does not perform any oversight or impose any regulation on these vendors! There have been notable incidents of non-sterile, contaminated "bacteriostatic water" that resulted in infections, illness and finally legal actions by the authorities.
Purchasing name-brand products from established medical distributors or scientific supply houses is little trouble and seems like a prudent move to me.
Fonkymonky
Established Member
I assumed that was the case. I think it is probably more dangerous to use tools that are not legit than to use anything at all.
dionysos
Advanced Researcher
As an advocate of Quality Awareness in the research peptide marketplace I am certainly on the side of sterile, non-pyrogenic injectables. It would please me if all vendors chose to test all peptide batches they sell.
Adding nuance, I am amazed at how few reported instances of infection I find when browsing through Peptide World online. Perhaps the research peptide products are more sterile than we expect. Or it is really difficult to become infected via sub-Q injections. I don’t pretend to have an answer here and I’ve not seen any serious studies that address these issues.
My wife has used only Aminos Research semaglutide for about a year now; it is her only injectable med. We do not plan to change her supplier.
I’ve used AR and seven other vendors (including one really sketchy supplier) in my GLP1 Grand Tour + GLOW + it’s none of your damn business peptide research experiences 😬
I have not felt it necessary to demand sterility tests on six of these product suppliers. With the seventh it was far to late when I realized there might be risk to have made any difference. I used the sketchy products, saved money, had good weight loss, and suffered no injuries.
Do I recommend that you buy from untested sketchy vendors to save money?
I DO NOT!
Do I worry about sterility issues at AR, Skye, Tydes, Polaris and other top QA Vendors?
I DO NOT!
Adding nuance, I am amazed at how few reported instances of infection I find when browsing through Peptide World online. Perhaps the research peptide products are more sterile than we expect. Or it is really difficult to become infected via sub-Q injections. I don’t pretend to have an answer here and I’ve not seen any serious studies that address these issues.
My wife has used only Aminos Research semaglutide for about a year now; it is her only injectable med. We do not plan to change her supplier.
I’ve used AR and seven other vendors (including one really sketchy supplier) in my GLP1 Grand Tour + GLOW + it’s none of your damn business peptide research experiences 😬
I have not felt it necessary to demand sterility tests on six of these product suppliers. With the seventh it was far to late when I realized there might be risk to have made any difference. I used the sketchy products, saved money, had good weight loss, and suffered no injuries.
Do I recommend that you buy from untested sketchy vendors to save money?
I DO NOT!
Do I worry about sterility issues at AR, Skye, Tydes, Polaris and other top QA Vendors?
I DO NOT!
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Just a counter point on @dionysos and questions. 🤔
Curious what makes AR, Skye, Tydes, Polaris and other top QA Vendors get the check mark for sterile quality...
Have they been testing for sterility all along when they receive their peptides from the Chinese manufacturers?
Or simply because tested product quantity matches claimed quantity so sterility MUST be good?
Or because everyone that has used them hasn't had lots of infections?
Agree Amazon CAN be a crap show with many RESELLERS with questionable made up names and/or potentially counterfeit products...kind of like the ENTIRE China peptide market.
But I also believe there are also many suppliers who appear to be selling their own products on Amazon as well as selling to medical distributors...BH Supplies as an example. Though to be fair because of the way Amazon is I can't guarantee this.
Some things can be a little harder to find especially in smaller quanities from the distributors/supply houses.
At least for me so far I have not found a source for the tiny "sterile" .22um 4mm filters being sold by Peptide Test anywhere so far from a reliable US medical distributor. And the larger diameter ones they seem to want you to buy a minimal of 100+.
At this point I don't know if Peptide Test is actually sterilizing the filters themselves or testing them or taking the Chinese suppliers word on it. So I can't say they are really safer than Cobetter appearing to sell their own product on Amazon or BioMed Scientific doing the same thing.
To be fair since there is no external link to company websites for the resellers on Amazon I am forced to make the assumption that companies like Cobetter, BioMed Scientific, BH Supplies are protecting their names/brands just like other companies would.
Not sure how much I would be thinking about sterility if it hadn't come up in the last month on here and I wasn't scheduled to have my knee replaced and hoping to use peptides to speed up the recovery.
So I guess I am just trying to figure out where I fall on this continuum of sterility safety...
So far I know it is somewhere between nothing pierces my skin unless I am safely inside a sterile operating room and standing on the corner asking the street dealer for a shot of whatever the other guy just had...
On 2nd thought, I know I ain't taken anything from the corner guy...I NEVER TRUSTED HIM! 😛
If we really want to be 100% safe we will have to get the equipment to sterilize everything ourselves...assuming we can trust ourselves not to screw that up. 😉
I would be interested in people listing the suppliers they feel are best for different supplies and also which brands they feel are the GOLD STANDARD.
Curious what makes AR, Skye, Tydes, Polaris and other top QA Vendors get the check mark for sterile quality...
Have they been testing for sterility all along when they receive their peptides from the Chinese manufacturers?
Or simply because tested product quantity matches claimed quantity so sterility MUST be good?
Or because everyone that has used them hasn't had lots of infections?
Agree Amazon CAN be a crap show with many RESELLERS with questionable made up names and/or potentially counterfeit products...kind of like the ENTIRE China peptide market.
But I also believe there are also many suppliers who appear to be selling their own products on Amazon as well as selling to medical distributors...BH Supplies as an example. Though to be fair because of the way Amazon is I can't guarantee this.
Some things can be a little harder to find especially in smaller quanities from the distributors/supply houses.
At least for me so far I have not found a source for the tiny "sterile" .22um 4mm filters being sold by Peptide Test anywhere so far from a reliable US medical distributor. And the larger diameter ones they seem to want you to buy a minimal of 100+.
At this point I don't know if Peptide Test is actually sterilizing the filters themselves or testing them or taking the Chinese suppliers word on it. So I can't say they are really safer than Cobetter appearing to sell their own product on Amazon or BioMed Scientific doing the same thing.
To be fair since there is no external link to company websites for the resellers on Amazon I am forced to make the assumption that companies like Cobetter, BioMed Scientific, BH Supplies are protecting their names/brands just like other companies would.
Not sure how much I would be thinking about sterility if it hadn't come up in the last month on here and I wasn't scheduled to have my knee replaced and hoping to use peptides to speed up the recovery.
So I guess I am just trying to figure out where I fall on this continuum of sterility safety...
So far I know it is somewhere between nothing pierces my skin unless I am safely inside a sterile operating room and standing on the corner asking the street dealer for a shot of whatever the other guy just had...
On 2nd thought, I know I ain't taken anything from the corner guy...I NEVER TRUSTED HIM! 😛
If we really want to be 100% safe we will have to get the equipment to sterilize everything ourselves...assuming we can trust ourselves not to screw that up. 😉
I would be interested in people listing the suppliers they feel are best for different supplies and also which brands they feel are the GOLD STANDARD.
I really like Westend Med for most of the supplies I've been buying. It's more expensive than Amazon but since they're a legit medical supply there's a certain quality standard you get when you order from them.
For supplies I typically consider these brands as the standard:
Syringes/Needles: Easy-Touch, BD as a runner up
BAC Water: Pfizer Hospira
Alcohol Wipes: No preference, whatever's on the shelf at Walmart
I haven't decided on a preference for filters yet but I'm leaning towards the ones peptidetest offers. I've been trying to stay away from the Amazon ones but have found it difficult to source the right filters from other places.
SQ injections are interesting.
According to studies I've seen, around 250k deaths annually in the US alone are attributed to medical errors (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160504085309.htm)
Yet SQ peptide injuries (and even deaths) numbers appear to be so moot that they're not even tracked at this time.
moonpies4misfits
Advanced Researcher
I just ordered a box of EasyTouch from them. On sale and was cheaper than my regular source (Total Diabetes Supply). I paid a few extra bucks for faster shipping because I'm ready to set this box of crappy BDs on fire.
Gwenhwyfar227
Research Enthusiast
I personally use a filter. Always have. Even when I bought from a compounding pharmacy. Yes it is not cheap. But I definitely didn't want to get sick from something not being sterile when I started peps to improve my health. It is not like we are there during the process making these..but I also am like this on many things. Not just peps...it's all a personal decision
Gwenhwyfar227
Research Enthusiast
I use it to reconstitute since I make batches on my PepPens
Sorry if I missed it somewhere else.
Which filters are you using and from where?
Gwenhwyfar227
Research Enthusiast
Ha...i have to go and look. I bought a surplus several months ago...
My daughters make fun of my buying bulk in everything...says I am the place everyone wants to be at for the apocalypse 🤣🤣
My daughters make fun of my buying bulk in everything...says I am the place everyone wants to be at for the apocalypse 🤣🤣
Gwenhwyfar227
Research Enthusiast
It looks like i bought 100 from Amazon. Same place as you linked above.
And a med store another 100. But they no longer carry them.
I figure i will eventually try a local medical supply place here in town that has always been reasonable and see if they are any cheaper
Fonkymonky
Established Member
I don't think these would be very effective. 5μm is not sterile. Anything above .22μm will not filter all of the bacteria.
Fonkymonky
Established Member
I have no idea whatsoever abou this. So I need at least 22ųm for the filter to be effective? Thanks for the info.
Gwenhwyfar227
Research Enthusiast
No...these are for pulling liquid. Say from a vial and making sure there are not any glass pieces in your solution
dionysos
Advanced Researcher
Gwenhwyfar227
Research Enthusiast
I am...but admitting it is half the battle
I would assume those medical errors include overdosing more hardcore meds?
My opinion on subq is widely frowned upon, I find it to be very low risk. With a couple hundred injections per year on average, most without swabbing neither the vial nor skin I am still infection free.
So statistically I do consider it unlikely to be problematic. Worst I’ve experienced was from a subq testosterone injection, the oil was definitely NOT clean, so that ended up being a bit nastynasty for a while.
It’s individual too I guess, but my understanding is that the risk of infection subq is moderate at most, even if the product isn’t 100% sterile.
(I wipe like a maniac when I do IM though), not because the risk of infection is that much higher, I think it might actually be lower, but if you get an infection IM it’s a bit more problematic
moonpies4misfits
Advanced Researcher
These are used to filter out glass glass particles when drawing from an ampule that needs to be cracked open.
