Research peptide suppliers publish certificates of analysis (COAs) from outside laboratories. This guide compares the three independent labs that Prime Peptide Solutions sends batch samples to: ILS Labs, Kovera Labs and BT Labs. It covers what each lab tests on our reports, how to check a report yourself, and what any COA can and cannot tell you.
Why independent testing matters
A supplier's own paperwork is easy to produce. A report from an outside lab adds a second party who measured the sample, signed the result and, in most cases, lets anyone check the report online. Using more than one lab also gives a second view of the same kind of product, because different labs use different equipment, methods and reference standards.
The three labs at a glance
| Lab | Based in | What our reports from this lab show | How to check a report |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILS Labs (ILS Laboratories) | San Diego, California | HPLC purity, identity and quantity; most reports also include a fentanyl screen | QR code on the COA, or the Verify COA page on ils-lab.com |
| Kovera Labs | — | HPLC purity, net content and LC-MS identity | Online verification at koveralabs.com |
| BT Labs | West Palm Beach, Florida | Identity, purity and quantity by HPLC, with mass spectrometry used to confirm identity | The report on our COAs page, matched by batch number |
ILS Labs
ILS Laboratories is an analytical lab in San Diego, California that tests dietary supplements, cosmetics, raw materials and research peptides. It states that it holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for the activities within its accredited scope, and its certificates refer to a published PJLA scope. On our ILS reports the panel is purity, identity and quantity by HPLC, and most also list a fentanyl screen. ILS also offers bacterial endotoxin testing (USP <85>, kinetic chromogenic LAL), a rapid sterility screen and heavy metals by ICP-MS; those tests only apply to a batch when they are printed on its COA. ILS notes on its certificates that results apply only to the sample submitted, and that the sample's name and lot number are supplied by the submitter.
Kovera Labs
Kovera Labs offers compound testing and online COA verification. Our Kovera reports list HPLC purity, net content (how much peptide is in the vial) and LC-MS identity, which checks that the molecule has the expected mass. Each Kovera report can be looked up on koveralabs.com.
BT Labs
BT Labs is an analytical laboratory in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to its lab profile on Finnrick, it measures quantity mainly by HPLC with UV detection and uses mass spectrometry as a confirming check of identity and of impurities or breakdown products. It also lists endotoxin testing as an available test. Our BT Labs reports are added to the COAs page under their batch numbers as they come in.
Other labs you may see on COAs
Prime Peptide Solutions does not currently send batches to the labs below. They are listed because their names often appear on COAs from other suppliers, so you can compare reports on the same terms.
Janoshik Analytical
An independent analytical lab in Prague, Czech Republic, widely referenced in the research peptide market. Published profiles describe HPLC with UV detection for quantity and purity, and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to confirm identity. Its reports are commonly checked online through the lab's own verification page. Like any COA, a Janoshik report covers only the sample that was sent in, so the batch on the report should match the batch you are looking at.
MZ Biolabs
An analytical lab in Tucson, Arizona that lists a DEA registration on its website and describes a mass spectrometry platform (ion trap and QTOF instruments) alongside HPLC, with custom method development. Check the tests printed on any MZ Biolabs report, since the panel depends on what the submitter ordered.
How these compare with our reports
The same questions apply to every lab: which methods were used (HPLC for purity, mass spectrometry for identity), whether net content or contaminant tests such as endotoxin were included, whether the report can be verified with the lab, and whether the batch matches the product. Our reports from ILS Labs, Kovera Labs and BT Labs are listed on the COAs page so they can be read the same way.
How to read and match a COA
- Product and size: the report should name the same compound and vial size you are looking at.
- Batch number: the batch or lot on the report should match the batch shown on the product page.
- Lab and date: check which lab issued it and when the sample was tested.
- Method and result: HPLC purity is a percentage of the detected material; identity is a pass or a measured mass.
- Verification: use the lab's QR code or website to confirm the report is genuine.
Step-by-step help: How to Read a Peptide COA and How to Verify a Peptide COA.
What a COA does not prove
A COA describes the sample that was tested, from one batch, on one date. It does not cover other batches, and the lab relies on the submitter for the sample's name and lot number. HPLC purity is not the same as net peptide content, which also counts water and counter-ions such as TFA or acetate; see Net Peptide Content vs HPLC Purity. Tests such as endotoxin, sterility or heavy metals are only covered when they appear on the report.
Common questions
Which labs test Prime Peptide Solutions products?
Batches are sent to ILS Labs, Kovera Labs and BT Labs. Each published report is listed on the COAs page with the product, size, batch number, lab and test date.
Is HPLC enough to confirm identity?
HPLC separates and measures the components of a sample, and is the usual method for purity. Mass spectrometry measures the mass of the molecule and is the stronger check that it is the expected compound. See Understanding HPLC and Mass Spec.
What is ISO/IEC 17025?
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Accreditation covers a listed scope of tests, so it is worth checking that the test you care about is on the lab's published scope.
How are research peptides made before they are tested?
Most are built by solid-phase peptide synthesis, purified by HPLC and freeze-dried. See How Research Peptides Are Made.
For laboratory research use only. Not for use in humans or animals.