Plain-language definitions
- Lyophilized
- Freeze-dried. Water is removed from a sample under controlled, low-temperature conditions, leaving a dry solid that is generally more stable for storage and shipping than the same material in solution.
- Sequence purity
- The proportion of peptide chains in a sample that match the exact intended amino acid sequence — distinct from chromatographic (HPLC) purity, which measures the sample against other peaks under specific test conditions rather than confirming sequence directly.
- Trifluoroacetate (TFA)
- A counter-ion commonly retained from the purification process used to manufacture many peptides. It contributes to the total measured mass of a sample without being part of the peptide itself, which is one reason "net peptide content" is often lower than a simple purity percentage.
- Molecular weight
- The mass of one molecule of a compound, usually reported in daltons (Da) or grams per mole (g/mol). Confirmed analytically via mass spectrometry, which checks that a sample's mass matches what's expected for the intended molecule.
- HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
- An analytical method that separates a sample's components and reports their relative proportions — commonly used to report a "purity" percentage. See our HPLC vs. LC-MS guide for more detail.
- LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry)
- Combines chromatographic separation with mass spectrometry to help confirm molecular identity, not just relative purity.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA)
- A laboratory document summarizing analytical results for a specific tested sample or lot. See our full COA guide for what to check on one.
How to independently verify a testing laboratory
A COA is only as trustworthy as the lab that issued it. A few concrete ways to check independently, rather than taking a report at face value:
- Search for the lab by name. A legitimate testing laboratory generally has its own website, a physical address, and a way to contact them directly — not just a name printed on a PDF.
- Check accreditation body directories. Laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 (the standard referenced in our COA guide) are typically listed in a searchable public directory maintained by their accrediting body — for U.S. labs, A2LA (the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) maintains one at a2la.org. If a lab claims ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, its name should appear in a directory like this.
- Contact the lab directly. A real lab can generally confirm whether a specific report number was issued by them. If a lab doesn't respond to a good-faith inquiry about a report bearing their name, treat that as a red flag.
- Cross-reference the report number. Ask the seller whether the report/COA number is unique and traceable — a report that can't be distinguished from others (or that's reused across unrelated products) is a sign the documentation isn't being managed rigorously.
Regulatory disclaimers
All products sold by DAAVY Research are strictly for laboratory, academic, institutional, or qualified independent research use. They are not for human or veterinary use, consumption, or application of any kind, and have not been evaluated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any therapeutic, diagnostic, or medical purpose. Nothing in DAAVY Research Academy constitutes medical, legal, or dosing advice. See our complete research-use policy for full terms.