Mass Spectrometry (MS)
Definition
An analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of molecules. Used in COAs to confirm peptide identity and molecular weight.
Related Terms in Quality
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A document from a laboratory (ideally third-party) that certifies the identity, purity, potency, and quality of a substance. Essential for verifying research peptide quality.
HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
An analytical technique used to separate, identify, and quantify components in a mixture. Used in COAs to determine peptide purity percentage.
Endotoxin
Toxic substances (lipopolysaccharides) released from the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxin testing (LAL test) is important for injectable peptide quality.
Purity
The percentage of the desired compound in a sample, as opposed to impurities, degradation products, or other contaminants. Research-grade peptides typically claim >98% purity.
cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice)
FDA regulations that ensure pharmaceutical products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. Applies to licensed drug manufacturers, not research-grade suppliers.
CAS Number
A unique numerical identifier assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to every chemical substance. Each peptide has a specific CAS number (e.g., BPC-157: 137525-51-0) that allows unambiguous identification regardless of naming conventions.
INCI Name
International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients — the standardized naming system required on cosmetic product labels worldwide. Relevant for topical peptide products like GHK-Cu (INCI: Copper Tripeptide-1) and Matrixyl (INCI: Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4).
Amino Acid Analysis (AAA)
A quality control test that determines the amino acid composition and quantity of a peptide sample. Used alongside HPLC and mass spectrometry on COAs to verify peptide identity.