Research Library
Understanding peptide analytical testing
An overview of the analytical techniques commonly used to characterise synthetic peptides and what each one tells you.
Why analytical testing matters
Synthetic peptides are produced through multi-step chemical processes. Analytical testing is how a laboratory confirms that a material is what its label says it is, and estimates how much of the sample is the intended compound.
No single technique answers every question, so results are usually read together.
Common techniques
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separates the components of a sample and is typically used to estimate purity as a percentage of the total detected signal.
Mass spectrometry (MS) measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions and is used to confirm that the observed molecular mass matches the expected mass of the compound.
Some reports also include appearance, solubility observations or water content, depending on the laboratory and the scope requested.
Reading results carefully
A result applies to the specific batch and sample that was tested, using the method stated on the report. Always check the batch number on a report matches the batch number on the vial.