Reference Standard
Also known as: analytical standard · reference material
A highly characterised sample of known identity and purity used to calibrate tests and confirm what a batch contains.
A reference standard is a well-characterised, high-purity sample of a compound, used as the benchmark against which test results are compared. Instruments are calibrated and unknown samples identified relative to it.
In peptide analysis, comparing a batch to a reference standard on HPLC and mass spectrometry is how identity and purity are confirmed with confidence, underpinning the numbers on a Certificate of Analysis.
RELATED TERMS
Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
A batch-specific lab document reporting a compound’s identity and purity — the primary proof of what is in the vial.
HPLC
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography — the standard technique for measuring the purity of a peptide.
Mass Spectrometry
An analytical method that measures a molecule’s mass to confirm a peptide’s identity matches its intended sequence.
Purity
The percentage of a sample that is the intended peptide, as measured by HPLC — the headline quality figure.
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