Peptide research has its own vocabulary. Some terms are precise and well-defined; others are used loosely or for marketing. This glossary covers the most common terms you'll encounter on COAs, datasheets, supplier websites, and lab benches.
Analytical and quality terms
HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
The standard method for measuring peptide purity. Separates components of a sample by passing them through a column under high pressure. Output is a chromatogram showing peaks for each component.
Mass spectrometry (MS)
Measures the molecular weight of a compound by ionizing it and detecting the mass-to-charge ratio. Used to confirm peptide identity by matching observed mass to theoretical mass.
AAA (Amino Acid Analysis)
Hydrolyzes a peptide back to its individual amino acids and quantifies each one. Cross-validates the sequence and confirms the expected residues are present.
COA (Certificate of Analysis)
The document reporting analytical results for a specific batch of a specific product. Includes purity, identity, often sterility, endotoxin, and heavy metals. Full guide here.
LOD / LOQ
Limit of Detection / Limit of Quantification. The smallest amount an analytical method can reliably detect (LOD) and accurately quantify (LOQ). Lower is more sensitive.
Karl Fischer titration
The standard method for measuring water content in lyophilized samples.
Manufacturing terms
SPPS (Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis)
The dominant chemical synthesis method for peptides. Builds the peptide chain one amino acid at a time on a solid resin support. Developed by Bruce Merrifield (Nobel Prize, 1984).
Fmoc / Boc
Two protecting group strategies used in SPPS. Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl) is the modern standard; Boc (tert-butyloxycarbonyl) is older and still used for certain applications.
TFA salt
Trifluoroacetate salt — the most common counterion form for peptides produced via standard HPLC purification with TFA-containing mobile phases. Affects net peptide content per vial.
Acetate salt
An alternative counterion form, sometimes preferred over TFA for biological assays where TFA could interfere.
Counterion
The ion paired with the peptide to balance charge and produce a neutral salt. Most commonly TFA or acetate. Disclosed on the COA.
Lyophilized
Freeze-dried. The standard finishing form for shipped peptides. Full lyophilization guide here.
Storage and handling terms
BAC water (Bacteriostatic Water)
Sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Used for reconstituting peptides intended for storage in solution. Not for analytical work where the preservative could interfere.
SWFI (Sterile Water for Injection)
Pure sterile water with no preservative. Used for analytical work and for peptides that will be used immediately or freeze-stored without solution-phase storage.
Aliquot
A measured sub-portion of a larger sample. Best practice is to reconstitute a peptide once, divide into single-use aliquots, freeze the aliquots, and thaw only what's needed.
Freeze-thaw cycle
The process of freezing then thawing a sample. Each cycle slightly degrades peptide stability. Limit to one when possible.
Cold chain
Temperature-controlled supply chain. Lyophilized peptides usually don't require strict cold chain for short transit; reconstituted peptides do.
Biological and contamination terms
Endotoxin
Toxic fragments of dead Gram-negative bacterial cell walls (lipopolysaccharide, LPS). Heat-stable, biologically active even at low concentrations. Detected by LAL or recombinant Factor C assay. Invisible to HPLC.
LAL (Limulus Amebocyte Lysate)
The classical assay for bacterial endotoxin testing. Uses extract from horseshoe crab blood. Newer recombinant alternatives exist but LAL remains the standard.
Sterility
The absence of viable microorganisms. Tested by culturing samples in growth media for 14 days (USP <71>). Distinct from "low bioburden" — sterility is binary.
Bioburden
The microbial load of a sample. Quantified by viable colony counts. Lower is better.
Mycoplasma
A class of small bacteria lacking cell walls. Common contaminants of cell culture work. Some peptide labs test for mycoplasma when relevant.
Regulatory terms
RUO (Research Use Only)
Designation meaning the product is for in vitro and laboratory research. Not for human or veterinary use. Not regulated as a drug.
cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice)
Regulatory framework for pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing. Most research peptides are not produced under full cGMP.
USP / EP / ICH
Pharmacopoeial and harmonization standards. Full breakdown here.
ISO 17025
International standard for testing and calibration lab competence. A strong third-party verification signal on a COA.
Common abbreviations on peptide COAs
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MW | Molecular Weight |
| Da / kDa | Daltons / kilodaltons (mass unit) |
| HPLC | High-Performance Liquid Chromatography |
| MS | Mass Spectrometry |
| ESI-MS | Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry |
| MALDI | Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization |
| RP-HPLC | Reverse-Phase HPLC |
| TFA | Trifluoroacetic Acid (or its salt form) |
| UV | Ultraviolet (detection wavelength) |
| EU/mg | Endotoxin Units per milligram |
| CFU | Colony-Forming Units |
| RT | Retention Time (HPLC) |
What does "99% by HPLC" actually mean?
The target peptide accounts for 99% of the integrated UV signal in the HPLC chromatogram at the chosen detection wavelength (typically 220 nm). The other 1% is impurities visible at that wavelength.
What's the difference between potency and purity?
Purity is the percentage of the sample that is the target molecule. Potency is the biological activity per unit mass. Both are important — and they aren't the same number.
What does "net peptide content" mean?
The actual mass of pure peptide in the vial after subtracting counterions (typically TFA), water, and other non-peptide components. A vial labeled "5 mg" with 15% TFA contains roughly 4.25 mg of net peptide.
Bookmark this glossary
Most peptide datasheets, COAs, and supplier websites assume readers know these terms. We've published this reference so they're easy to look up. For deeper guides on the most important terms, see how to read a COA, lyophilization explained, and peptide purity in depth.
Compliance Notice: American Peptides products are sold strictly for laboratory and academic research purposes only. They are not intended for human or veterinary consumption, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any disease. All content on this page is educational in nature and does not constitute medical advice or product claims. Researchers are responsible for handling these compounds in accordance with their institutions safety protocols and applicable laws.
