FOR LABORATORY RESEARCH USE ONLY – NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
1. mg, ml and Units – The Basics
Research products are usually described using three linked values:
- mg (milligrams) – total amount of Tirzepatide or Retatrutide in the container
- ml (millilitres) – total volume of liquid the compound is dissolved in
- Units – how pens and insulin-style syringes measure that volume
A common standard is:
1 ml = 100 units of volume in typical insulin-type pens and syringes.
2. Example: 20mg Pen with 3ml Total Volume
This is a simple worked example using round numbers, to show how unit math is calculated:
- Total compound: 20mg
- Total liquid: 3ml
- Device scale: 1ml = 100 units → 3ml = 300 units total
Units per 1mg can then be calculated as:
Units per 1mg = (Total units) ÷ (Total mg)
→ 300 ÷ 20 = 15 units per 1mg
| Target mg (example) |
Units (20mg in 3ml pen) |
| 1.0 mg | 15 units |
| 1.5 mg | 22.5 units |
| 2.0 mg | 30 units |
| 2.5 mg | 37.5 units |
| 5.0 mg | 75 units |
These values are for illustration only – your exact unit values depend on the strength
printed on the pen label and its total liquid volume.
3. General Formula for Any Pen
To calculate units per 1mg for any multi-dose pen:
Step 1: Find total mg in the pen (M)
Step 2: Find total ml in the pen (V)
Step 3: Convert ml to units → V × 100 = total units (U)
Step 4: Units per mg = U ÷ M
4. Reconstituted Vials – Generic Unit Formula
For vials that are supplied as powder and then reconstituted with bacteriostatic water:
- Vial contains X mg of compound
- You add Y ml of liquid
- Your syringe is calibrated so 1 ml = 100 units
The general formula is:
Total units in vial = Y × 100
Units per 1mg = (Y × 100) ÷ X
Worked Vial Example
Suppose a vial contains 10mg and you add 2ml:
- Total units = 2ml × 100 = 200 units
- Units per 1mg = 200 ÷ 10 = 20 units per mg
5. Structuring Research Protocols (High-Level Only)
Many laboratory protocols for metabolic compounds follow similar high-level patterns:
- Once-weekly experimental intervals
- Incremental changes between stages of the study
- Consistent timing and logging of each exposure
- Clear recording of mg and units used in each set
The exact structure is determined by your research aims, ethics approval and in-house
guidelines – this guide only supports the underlying unit math.
6. Pens vs Vials – Quick Comparison
| Feature |
Research Pen |
Reconstituted Vial |
| Measurement |
Dialled units on pen |
Units drawn on syringe |
| Preparation |
Pre-filled by manufacturer |
Manual mixing required |
| Convenience |
Very high |
Moderate |
| Flexibility |
Fixed concentration |
Concentration decided by operator |
7. What This Guide Does – and Doesn’t – Cover
This guide does provide:
- Logical explanation of units, mg and ml
- Generic formulas for converting mg to units
- Worked examples for pens and vials used in metabolic research
This guide does not provide:
- Medical dosing recommendations
- Personalised usage advice
- Any instruction intended for self-administration
8. Legal & Research Notice
All products supplied by Lumina Weight are intended strictly for laboratory research.
Information on this page is for research planning and calculation only
and must not be used to guide medical treatment or self-administration.
Nothing here constitutes medical advice. All compounds are not for human consumption.