Questions, answered.
The questions researchers ask before a first order, answered plainly from our published policies. 21 in total, across four topics.
Compliance & use
What does “Research Use Only” actually mean?
Everything Helion sells is for laboratory and in-vitro research only. Never for human or veterinary use, and never for any therapeutic, diagnostic, or cosmetic purpose. Placing an order means you accept the Research-Use-Only acknowledgment shown at checkout.
Do I need to sign anything to order?
Just one acknowledgment. At checkout you confirm the Research-Use-Only terms before your order is captured, and a copy of what you agreed to travels with your order confirmation. No notarization, nothing to mail back.
Do you require age verification?
You must be 21 or older to purchase. It’s part of our compliance policy and a condition of every sale.
Quality & testing
Are your products third-party tested?
Yes, by a lab that isn’t us. Each lot is independently analyzed for identity, mass, purity, and endotoxin, and lot-specific Certificates of Analysis post as each lot clears the pipeline. Reach out any time to ask about a specific lot.
Who tests your batches?
Independent, U.S.-based analytical labs handle every release, not Helion. The panel covers identity (HPLC), molecular mass (MS), purity by HPLC peak area, and bacterial endotoxin (LAL).
What’s your purity standard?
Our release floor is 99%+ identity purity by HPLC; a lot that doesn’t clear it doesn’t get listed. Each lot’s exact figure is printed on its Certificate of Analysis once testing wraps.
What is your re-verification policy?
Every lot is independently third-party tested before release, and lot-specific Certificates of Analysis publish as each lot clears testing. If a delivered lot is independently re-verified within 30 days and tests below its stated identity-purity floor or shows endotoxin above the level reported on its Certificate of Analysis, we provide a refund and replacement. The full policy is on our returns and re-verification page.
Where do the references on product pages come from?
Every product page lists peer-reviewed papers on that compound, pulled from PubMed with a link to each record. They are there for reference, to show what the scientific literature covers. Nothing on the page is guidance on use, and none of it changes the Research Use Only terms.
Shipping & fulfillment
When will my order ship?
Orders in by 2pm PT on a business day ship that same day once payment clears; later orders, weekends and holidays go out the next business day. Tracking reaches you the moment it ships.
What’s the base shipping method?
Two flat rates: USPS Priority Mail at $9.99 (standard), or FedEx 2-Day at $15.99. Orders of $250 or more ship free by either carrier. PO Boxes are routed to USPS Priority at no extra charge. We ship within the United States only.
Do you ship internationally?
No. Helion Research ships to addresses within the United States only. We do not ship internationally.
What if my address is a PO Box?
FedEx won’t deliver to PO Boxes, so we reroute those to USPS Priority Mail automatically. Never any extra charge, nothing for you to do.
How should I store it when it arrives?
Reference compounds ship lyophilized and are stored sealed at 2 to 8 °C, desiccated and protected from light, on arrival. Bacteriostatic water is stored at room temperature. Each product page carries the storage detail for that compound.
How is my order packaged, and do I get tracking?
Orders ship in plain outer packaging with the contents not listed on the exterior, which is standard for laboratory shipments. A tracking number is emailed the moment your order ships. Delivery does not require a signature, and checkout has no option to add one. If signature-on-delivery matters for your shipment, email support@helionresearchusa.com before it ships. Signed-in buyers can also open tracking from Orders in their account.
Orders & payment
How does ordering work?
Add compounds to the cart from the catalog or any product page. At checkout you confirm the Research Use Only acknowledgment, enter a U.S. shipping address, and pay by card. Orders placed by 2pm PT on a business day ship the same day, tracking is emailed when the package leaves, and each lot’s Certificate of Analysis is on the COA Portal page once testing completes.
What payment methods do you accept?
Pay by credit or debit card at checkout. Your card details go into our payment processor’s secure, PCI-compliant frame and never touch our servers; your statement shows HELION. Venmo, Cash App and Chime are also accepted; you send the payment after placing the order, using the order number as the note. Zelle and crypto (BTC / ETH / USDC) appear as options at checkout when available, and take 5% off the order total. Crypto (BTC / ETH / USDC) appears as an option at checkout and takes 5% off the order total.
Can I cancel or modify my order?
If it hasn’t shipped, email us within an hour of ordering and we’ll change or cancel it. Once a tracking number is generated, the package is already moving and can’t be recalled.
Can I order larger quantities?
Bundle pricing applies automatically at five and ten vials. For larger quantities, email support@helionresearchusa.com with the compounds and quantities you need before ordering and we will confirm stock and timing.
Can I return an order?
Research materials are not returnable once shipped. If a protected shipment arrives damaged, or does not arrive at all, email support@helionresearchusa.com with your order number and we will replace or refund it. Orders shipped without Package Protection are the carrier’s responsibility once it accepts the package. Lots that fail independent re-verification are covered separately under our returns and re-verification policy.
What about chargebacks?
Have a problem? Email support first. We resolve every legitimate issue. Filing a chargeback on a delivered order breaks the terms you accept at checkout and closes your account to future orders. Every shipment is documented, so disputes are simple to settle the right way.
How do I find out when a sold-out compound is back?
Open the compound’s page and leave your email in the Notify me box, or press Notify me on its catalog card, which takes you straight there. You get one email when that compound is back in stock, and nothing else.
Ask us about a specific lot or order.
Email support and a human answers. Include your order number or the SKU you are asking about and we will get to it faster.