How to Store hCG: Refrigeration and Shelf Life

Whether hCG needs refrigeration, how long powder and mixed vials keep, and what to do if a vial got warm.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · 3 Oct 2026 · DisclosureGonadotropinUpdated 3 Oct 2026

For the FDA-approved product, the label and package insert are the authority on storage. The notes below are for vials of powder that are mixed before use.

Storage at a glance

Quoted from the FDA label, with the source for each row.

hCG storage conditions
Condition	What the source says	Source type	Source
Unreconstituted	Store at room temperature 20-25C	FDA label	FDA label (Novarel)
Reconstituted	Refrigerate reconstituted product at 2-8C and use within 30 days	FDA label	FDA label (Novarel)
Unopened vial	Store at controlled room temperature 15-25C	FDA label	FDA label (Pregnyl)
Reconstituted	Refrigerate 2-8C; discard after 60 days	FDA label	FDA label (Pregnyl)

Unmixed powder

Freeze-dried (lyophilized) powder is the form most vials ship in. Sourced conditions for hCG are in the table above; anything they do not cover is unverified.

Keep vials sealed, dry and out of direct light and heat until use.
Check the label for a lot number and an expiry date. A vial with neither tells you nothing about its age.

After mixing

Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, peptide vials are usually kept in the refrigerator and used within a limited time. Sourced conditions for hCG are in the table above; anything they do not cover is unverified.

Write the mixing date on the vial.
Swab the rubber top with alcohol before every draw.
Do not freeze a mixed vial unless the product information says you can.

If it got warm or looks wrong

Do not use a vial that: looks cloudy, has particles or has changed colour (unless the product information says that is expected), or has a damaged seal.

How much potency hCG loses after a temperature slip is not covered by any published stability study we found. When in doubt, ask a pharmacist.

Common questions

Does hCG need to be refrigerated?

Follow the storage instructions on the approved product's label (quoted on this page). Compounded or research versions should come with their own instructions; if they don't, ask the pharmacy.

How long is hCG good for after mixing?

That depends on the product and how it was mixed. We publish a shelf life only from a manufacturer or a stability study; the sourced conditions are on this page.

More on hCG

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.ResultsStudy outcomes and when they were measured.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.How to injectSites, syringe types and hygiene, step by step.

Sources

1NOVAREL ® (chorionic gonadotropin) for injection, for intramuscular use Initial U.S. Approval: 1974FDA label (Novarel), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
2Pregnyl ® (chorionic gonadotropin) for injectionFDA label (Pregnyl), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026

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