When sourcing materials for your lab work, the product page is only the starting point. A claim of high purity doesn’t really tell what is inside a vial. There is more to check to establish whether you are getting a high-quality material for your research.
Read on!
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Look for batch-specific data
The Certificate of Analysis (COA) should correspond to the batch you are interested in. But some suppliers show generic certificates that apply to a range of products. This gives little assurance of the actual material you will receive.
Before you buy peptides, ensure that the COA contains the:
- Product name
- Batch or lot number
- Testing date
- Reported results.
The lot number should also be the same as the vial or the product documentation. This establishes a link between the physical material and analytical outcomes.
Check for independent third-party testing
A supplier’s own quality statement is different from testing performed by an independent laboratory. Third-party analysis can offer an additional degree of assurance.
Check for identification of the testing laboratory and analysis techniques. Various testing methods are employed, including HPLC and mass spectrometry. This depends on the peptide and research use.
Review the testing details
Don’t just settle for a high percentage that is printed on a COA. When interpreting the result, it is important to check:
- What was in fact measured
- How it was achieved.
A good report will contain enough methodological detail to help you understand the outcome.
Check for peptide:
- Identity
- Purity
- Analytical methods
- Other relevant specifications.
Some documents state only that a particular item has been “lab tested.” But they don’t provide particular results. In such a case, it is hard to assess the value of the document.
Review lot and product traceability
Traceability is especially critical for online orders of research materials. The name of the product, vial label, lot number, and COA should match.
It is also important that a supplier can offer consistent documentation of different batches. Clear lot information is important when it comes to documenting the exact materials used in an experiment.
Read reviews carefully
Reviews can help with feedback on:
- Communication
- Packaging
- Shipping
- If the products arrived that matched what was ordered.
Reviews cannot, however, be used to confirm peptide identity or purity.
Be cautious when:
- Every review makes identical claims
- There are no independent reviews
- Criticism appears to be consistently removed.
Check out several resources rather than trusting all information found on the seller’s website.
Verify Canadian regulatory claims
Research materials must also be distinguished from approved medicines. Do not assume that a specific peptide labeled “research use only” is approved for human use. In Canada, the regulatory classification depends on the product and how it is represented and provided.
Check the supplier’s claims independently and decide if the material will be suitable for the research in your laboratory.
Maintain documentation
Lastly, when you get the material, retain the documents. This includes:
- The invoice
- Product information
- Lot number
- COA
- Any correspondence with the supplier.
This will help you to ensure the validity of your research.
