HPLC Testing Explained: Why Purity Matters
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is the gold standard for peptide purity testing. Understand what the numbers on your CoA actually mean.
What is HPLC?
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical technique used to separate, identify, and quantify components in a mixture. For peptides, it is the gold standard method to confirm purity.
How HPLC Works for Peptides
A sample is injected into a column packed with a stationary phase (typically C18 reversed-phase material). A mobile phase (solvent gradient) carries the peptide through the column. Different components elute at different times based on their hydrophobicity and charge.
The detector (usually UV at 214–220 nm) records a chromatogram — a series of peaks representing each component. The area under the main peak compared to total peak area gives the purity percentage.
Reading a Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
Your CoA should contain:
At Bausch Pharma, all products are tested to ≥99% purity by HPLC before release.
Why Purity Matters
Impurities in research peptides can:
Always request a CoA from your supplier and verify the HPLC trace is included — not just a stated number.
Summary
HPLC purity testing is non-negotiable for serious peptide research. Understanding your CoA lets you evaluate supplier quality objectively and ensures the integrity of your experimental data.