Why sourcing is the real risk
The biggest danger with research peptides isn't the molecule, it's not getting the molecule you paid for. The grey market is full of underdosed, mislabeled, or contaminated vials.
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is your single best defense. It shows what's actually in the vial and how pure it is.
What a trustworthy COA includes
- Identity confirmed by mass spectrometry (it's the right molecule)
- HPLC purity ≥ 98%, with the chromatogram image, not just a number
- Bacterial endotoxin below 1 EU/mg for anything injected
- A residual-solvent panel (TFA, acetonitrile, DMF)
- An ISO 17025 / A2LA-accredited third-party lab
- A batch number that matches your vial's label
Vendor green flags vs. red flags
Green: batch-specific COAs for the exact vial you receive, a named accredited lab, clear contact info, and a reship/refund policy.
Red: a single 'stock' COA reused across products, a purity number with no chromatogram, no endotoxin testing on injectables, or pricing that's too good to be true.
Use the tool
Rather than eyeball a COA, run its numbers through our Vial Confidence checker for an instant green/amber/red read and the exact questions to ask your supplier.