Help & FAQ
Everything you need to know about peptide verification and understanding your certificate
Updated: October 2024
General
What is PeptideVerify?
Who uses PeptideVerify?
Our service is used by peptide sellers who want to provide verified quality certificates to their customers, and peptide buyers who want independent verification of product quality. The QR code system ensures certificates are genuine and haven't been forged.
Are your certificates GMP-compliant?
No. PeptideVerify is designed for non-GMP applications including research use, quality screening, and commercial verification. Our acceptance criteria are appropriate for research-grade peptides and are not intended for pharmaceutical manufacturing or clinical use.
Verification & Security
How do I verify a certificate?
Visit the verification page and enter the certificate ID, or scan the QR code on the certificate with your phone. All certificates are publicly verifiable - no login required.
Can certificates be faked?
No. Each certificate has a unique ID and QR code linked to our secure database. The QR code takes you directly to peptideverify.co.uk where you can verify the certificate is genuine. Certificates cannot be altered after generation.
Process
How do peptide sellers use this service?
Peptide sellers create an account, submit physical samples for testing, and receive professional certificates with QR codes. They can then provide these certificates to customers as proof of quality. Buyers can verify the certificate is genuine by scanning the QR code - building trust and reducing disputes.
How do I submit a sample for testing?
After creating an account, you'll receive sample submission instructions including shipping address and requirements. We perform HPLC and LC-MS analysis and generate your certificate within the selected turnaround time (12-48 hours depending on service tier).
Technical
What is the difference between HPLC and LC-MS?
HPLC (chromatography) measures purity by separating compounds and calculating the percentage of your target peptide. LC-MS (mass spectrometry) additionally confirms the molecular weight, verifying the peptide identity. Certificates can include either or both methods.
What's the difference between Peptide Purity (PPI) and Sample Composition?
Peptide Purity (PPI) measures how structurally pure the peptide molecule itself is – the quality and integrity of the peptide structure. Think of it as "how clean is the peptide?"
Sample Composition (Area %) measures what proportion of the UV-detectable material in your vial is the target peptide versus other UV-visible compounds. Think of it as "how much of the UV-visible sample is this peptide?"
Important: Sample Composition only detects UV-absorbing compounds. Fillers like mannitol, salts, and sugars are invisible to HPLC-UV and do NOT affect this percentage. A low Sample Composition (e.g. 50%) with multiple peaks indicates peptide-related impurities (other peptides or synthesis byproducts), not invisible fillers.
Sample Composition (Area %) measures what proportion of the UV-detectable material in your vial is the target peptide versus other UV-visible compounds. Think of it as "how much of the UV-visible sample is this peptide?"
Important: Sample Composition only detects UV-absorbing compounds. Fillers like mannitol, salts, and sugars are invisible to HPLC-UV and do NOT affect this percentage. A low Sample Composition (e.g. 50%) with multiple peaks indicates peptide-related impurities (other peptides or synthesis byproducts), not invisible fillers.
What mass spectrometry equipment do you use?
Our mass spectrometry service uses a Shimadzu LCMS-8040 – a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with high sensitivity, high speed and high reliability. Analysis of both positive and negative ions is possible in the same experiment due to ultrafast polarity switching capabilities – allowing for simultaneous analysis.
High Sensitivity: Incorporation of improved ion optics and collision cell technology provides up to 5-fold higher multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) sensitivity. This higher sensitivity expands the potential range of LC/MS/MS applications.
High Speed: The LCMS-8040's high-speed performance doesn't compromise on sensitivity. MRM transition speeds reach up to 555 MRMs per second, with ultrafast polarity switching at 15 msec. This high-speed performance dramatically improves analytical throughput.
High Reliability: MRM optimisation is based on rapid automated flow injection analyses, requiring minutes to perform. We use LabSolutions LCMS software which offers advanced data processing features, including a Quantitation Browser for multiple analytes, and a Data Browser for comparing multiple datasets in the same window.
High Sensitivity: Incorporation of improved ion optics and collision cell technology provides up to 5-fold higher multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) sensitivity. This higher sensitivity expands the potential range of LC/MS/MS applications.
High Speed: The LCMS-8040's high-speed performance doesn't compromise on sensitivity. MRM transition speeds reach up to 555 MRMs per second, with ultrafast polarity switching at 15 msec. This high-speed performance dramatically improves analytical throughput.
High Reliability: MRM optimisation is based on rapid automated flow injection analyses, requiring minutes to perform. We use LabSolutions LCMS software which offers advanced data processing features, including a Quantitation Browser for multiple analytes, and a Data Browser for comparing multiple datasets in the same window.
For Sellers: Create an account to start generating verified certificates for your products. Sign in or register here.
Understanding Your Certificate
Key Quality Metrics
The certificate displays purity percentage, number of detected peaks, and mass accuracy (if LC-MS data is available). These metrics provide a quick quality assessment. Green badges indicate passing results.
Chromatogram
The chromatogram shows intensity over time. A sharp, tall main peak with few or no other peaks indicates high purity. The chart automatically focuses on the region containing your peptide peak.
System Suitability Table
This table verifies the analytical system was working correctly during testing. Parameters include Resolution (peak separation), Tailing Factor (peak symmetry), and Theoretical Plates (column efficiency). Pass/N/A results indicate reliable data.
Glossary of Key Terms
Peptide Purity (PPI)
Peak Purity Index – Shows how structurally pure the identified peptide is. This spectral analysis detects impurities hidden within the main peak, measuring the quality and structural integrity of the peptide molecule itself. Values above 98% indicate excellent molecular purity. This metric tells you how "clean" the peptide structure is, not how much of the sample is peptide.
Sample Composition (Area %)
Shows what portion of the UV-detectable sample corresponds to your target peptide. Calculated from chromatographic peak areas (main peak area ÷ total peak areas). Important: This only measures UV-visible compounds. Lower values usually indicate other UV-visible peptide impurities or related compounds are present. Non-UV fillers like mannitol, salts, and sugars are not detected by this method and do not affect this percentage. Typical range: 85-99%+.
Mass Accuracy (ppm)
The difference between expected and detected molecular weight, in parts per million. Confirms peptide identity. Our thresholds: ±25 ppm (excellent), ±100 ppm (acceptable), ±200 ppm (review recommended).
Resolution (Rs)
Measures separation between peaks. Higher values mean better separation. Shows "N/A" when only one peak is detected (excellent - indicates no impurities to separate from).
Tailing Factor (T)
Measures peak symmetry. Values near 1.0 are ideal. Values >2.5 suggest peak distortion. Acceptance limit: ≤2.5.
Theoretical Plates (N)
Indicates column efficiency and peak sharpness. Higher values mean better performance. Acceptance limit: ≥1000 plates.
Retention Time (RT)
The time from injection to peak detection, measured in minutes. Used to identify compounds and check chromatographic consistency.
HPLC
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography – Analytical technique that separates compounds in a mixture using a liquid mobile phase and a solid stationary phase. Used to measure peptide purity.
LC-MS
Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry – Combined technique that separates compounds (LC) and then measures their molecular weight (MS). Used to confirm peptide identity.
Still have questions? Contact us at hello@peptideverify.co.uk or visit our contact page.