An experiment is only as good as its starting material. With research peptides, you cannot tell from the outside what you are buying. These eight points help you assess a supplier before you order.
1. Is the certificate for the batch itself?
Ask for the certificate of analysis for the batch you receive. A single certificate that has been shown with a product for years is an example, not proof.
2. Is the batch number on the vial?
Without a number on the label, you cannot link a certificate to a vial. You then have no way of knowing whether the data relates to your material.
3. Who did the measuring?
An independent laboratory has no stake in the outcome. The name of the lab should be on the certificate, so that you can check that it exists.
4. Were both purity and identity determined?
HPLC gives the purity; mass spectrometry confirms which compound it is. You need both. A high percentage without a mass determination only tells you that there is one main component. Read more in What does 99% purity mean?
5. Is the raw data available?
A chromatogram and a mass spectrum are harder to falsify than a table of numbers. A supplier that will not show them is giving you less than you need.
6. Who is the supplier?
A company you can find is a company you can hold accountable. Check whether the website lists a company name, an address, a trade register number, and a VAT number, and whether there are contact details where someone actually responds.
7. How does the supplier handle the research purpose?
Research peptides are intended for laboratory research. A supplier that takes this seriously has every order confirmed as being for research. If the site shows dosages and user testimonials, the offering is in practice not aimed at research. See RUO explained.
8. How are products stored and shipped?
Lyophilized peptides are sensitive to heat and moisture. Ask where the stock is kept, how it is stored, and how a shipment is packed. A short transit time helps. For background, see Why lyophilize?
Red flags
- No certificate, or only on request after purchase.
- Certificates without a batch number, a date, or the name of the laboratory.
- Claims about effects in humans.
- No company details on the website.
- Prices far below those of other suppliers, without explanation.
How PulseChem measures up. Every vial has a batch number, and every batch number has a certificate from an external laboratory. You can look it up on the Lab results page. With every order, you confirm that it is for laboratory research. The checks each batch goes through are set out in the laboratory standard.
This article is background information on laboratory research. It is not medical advice or instructions for use. All products are for research use only.