Knowledge base
Knowledge base
Practical material on quality, documentation and working with research reagents.
COAManufacturer certificate vs. independent testingNot every certificate of analysis carries the same weight. We explain what a manufacturer COA confirms, what it does not cover, and why a retest in an independent laboratory is stronger evidence.COAHow to read a certificate of analysis (COA)A certificate of analysis (COA) is the evidence of batch quality. We explain which fields to look at: identity, batch number, purity, analytical method and date.RUOWhat RUO (Research Use Only) meansRUO is a classification for material intended solely for research purposes. We explain what it means in practice and how it differs from a medicine, a supplement and a medical device.StorageStoring and handling research reagentsHow to store research materials so they retain their quality: lyophilised form, temperature, protection from light and moisture, freeze-thaw cycles and traceability.Quality and analyticsGlossary - research peptidesA short glossary of terms found in research-grade reagent documentation: peptide, RUO, COA, lyophilisate, purity, batch number, CAS number, molecular weight and more.Quality and analyticsHPLC purity of research peptides - what does 99% meanWhat HPLC purity actually measures, why a bare 99% figure without a method means nothing, and how to compare declarations from different suppliers of research materials.Quality and analyticsHow peptide identity is confirmed - HPLC and mass spectrometryWhy describing a batch of research material takes two methods: chromatography speaks to homogeneity, mass spectrometry to the identity of the molecule.StorageLyophilisate - why research peptides are freeze-driedWhat lyophilisation involves, why it is the standard for research peptides, and what the deposit in the vial does (and does not) tell you about the quality of the material.StorageCold chain in the transport of research materialsHow transport affects the stability of lyophilised research peptides, when cooling is genuinely necessary, and what to check once the shipment arrives.OrdersGoods-in check - what to verify when research material arrivesA goods-in checklist for research materials: label against certificate, condition of the seal, batch documentation and the right moment to raise a complaint.OrdersOrdering as a company or research institution - how it worksHow to order research materials in the name of a company or academic body: tax ID, invoice, batch documentation and the question of withdrawal rights on professional purchases.StorageTypes of water used in the laboratoryDistilled, demineralised and ultrapure water, and alongside them pharmaceutical preparations. We explain how these types differ and which one is a laboratory reagent.