Buyer guide / Analytical methods
HPLC and mass spectrometry in peptide quality control
What HPLC and mass spectrometry contribute to peptide documentation, and which questions a laboratory buyer should ask about the reported results.
Two methods, different questions
High-performance liquid chromatography, or HPLC, separates sample components under defined conditions. Mass spectrometry measures mass-to-charge signals. Peptide suppliers commonly use these techniques together because a chromatographic purity assessment and an identity assessment address different properties.
Reference: GenScript: peptide analytical quality-control methods
Reading an HPLC result
Check the method and the way the result is calculated. The chromatogram and integration information help place a reported purity figure in context. A percentage without method information is harder to compare with another laboratory’s result.
- Is the chromatogram connected to the stated sample or batch?
- What detector and analytical conditions are reported?
- Which peak is assigned to the target material?
- Are the integration and reported units explained?
Reference: GenScript: peptide analytical quality-control methods
Reading a mass-spectrometry result
Compare the reported mass information with the expected identity and chemical form. If an assignment is unclear, request the laboratory’s interpretation rather than treating a single displayed number as a complete identity assessment.
GenScript describes additional analytical tests for attributes such as content, water and residual components. The presence of HPLC and MS reports does not imply that every other attribute has been measured.
Reference: GenScript: peptide analytical quality-control methods
Turn the results into a clear document request
State the records and acceptance criteria your laboratory needs before ordering. Request the available batch report and ask about any supporting chromatogram, spectrum or test detail required by your purchasing process.
Holy Water coordinates documentation requests during quotation review. A description of an analytical method in this guide does not mean every catalogue batch has undergone that test. Confirm the actual scope for the material offered.
Explore the catalogue
Compare the listed specifications and box prices, and add the materials your organisation requires to a quotation request.