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Research glossary

The terms you'll see on certificates, vial labels and in the literature, explained in plain language. Each one links to its source.

Quality & testing

Certificate of analysis (COA): A lab report for one specific batch that lists the tests run, the results and the lot number. A COA is only meaningful if its lot number matches the vial and it comes from the lab that did the testing.; Source: FDA — Current Good Manufacturing Practice (21 CFR 211.84) ↗
HPLC purity: High-performance liquid chromatography separates the contents of a sample so each one shows up as a peak. Purity is the target peptide's peak as a percentage of all detected peaks. It doesn't confirm identity by itself, so it is usually paired with mass spectrometry.; Source: StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) — Chromatography ↗
Mass spectrometry (MS): Measures the molecular mass of what's in the sample. If the measured mass matches the peptide's expected mass, that supports its identity. HPLC answers "how pure" and MS answers "is it the right molecule".; Source: StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) — Mass Spectrometer ↗

Lyophilized: Freeze-dried. Water is removed under low temperature and vacuum, leaving a dry powder or cake that is more stable for storage than a liquid. The powder has to be reconstituted (dissolved) before use in the lab.; Source: FDA — Lyophilization of Parenteral (7/93) inspection guide ↗
Bacteriostatic water: Sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol added to stop bacteria from growing, which allows a vial to be entered more than once. Sterile water without a preservative is meant for single use.; Source: DailyMed — Bacteriostatic Water for Injection label ↗
U-100 syringe units: Insulin-style syringes are marked in units where 100 units equals 1 mL. Units measure volume only. How much compound is in each unit depends on the concentration of the mixed vial.; Source: MedlinePlus (NIH) — U-100: 100 units in 1 mL ↗

Half-life: The time it takes for the amount of a compound in the blood to fall by half. A short half-life means its effect fades within hours. Albumin-binding modifications, like those on semaglutide or CJC-1295 with DAC, stretch the half-life to days.; Source: StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) — Elimination Half-Life of Drugs ↗
GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors: Gut-hormone receptors studied in metabolic research. GLP-1 agonists (e.g. semaglutide) affect insulin, gastric emptying and appetite. Tirzepatide also activates GIP, and retatrutide adds the glucagon receptor.; Source: StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) — Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists ↗
GHRH analogs vs GHRPs: Two classes that both make the pituitary release growth hormone. GHRH analogs (sermorelin, tesamorelin, CJC-1295) act on the GHRH receptor, while GHRPs/secretagogues (ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6) act on the ghrelin receptor.; Source: PubMed — Raun K, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective GH secretagogue (1998) ↗

Phase 1, 2 and 3 trials: Phase 1 tests safety in a small group. Phase 2 looks at effect and side effects in a few hundred people. Phase 3 compares the compound against placebo or standard care in large groups, and is usually what regulators require before approval.; Source: FDA — Step 3: Clinical Research ↗
Preclinical vs clinical evidence: Preclinical means cell (in vitro) or animal (in vivo) studies. Clinical means studies in humans. Many peptides in this catalog only have preclinical evidence, and results in animals often don't carry over to people.; Source: FDA — Step 2: Preclinical Research ↗
Research use only (RUO): A label for products sold for laboratory research, not for diagnosis, treatment or human use. RUO products haven't been through the FDA review an approved drug has.; Source: FDA — Distribution of In Vitro Diagnostic Products Labeled for Research Use Only ↗
WADA prohibited list: The World Anti-Doping Agency's yearly list of substances banned in sport. It includes BPC-157 and growth-hormone releasing factors and peptides such as CJC-1295 and ipamorelin.; Source: WADA — Prohibited List ↗