You recognise a counterfeit or substandard peptide by three things: the absence of documentation that can be checked independently, a mismatched or missing code and hologram, and unrealistic claims on the label. A credible peptide has a recent certificate of analysis from an independent laboratory, with purity of at least 99% by HPLC and identity confirmed by mass spectrometry.
This article shows what to check before a purchase and after it.
How do you check the manufacturer’s code and hologram?
Products from Bio-Peptide and Genheal carry a unique code hidden under a hologram. After purchase you scratch off the hologram, read the code and enter it on the manufacturer’s website to confirm the packaging is genuine. Step-by-step instructions and the list of manufacturers are on our authenticity page and manufacturers page. A code that fails verification, or that is missing altogether, is a warning sign.
What should a certificate of analysis contain?
A certificate of analysis, COA for short, documents test results for a specific batch of peptide. A genuine COA states the identity of the substance tested, the batch or lot number, the test date and the methods used, above all HPLC and mass spectrometry.
Who ran the test also matters. An in-house test is performed by the manufacturer on its own product, while an independent test is run by a laboratory with no stake in the outcome. For research material, only a certificate from an independent laboratory counts as verification of quality.
What purity is good enough?
The reference point for research material is purity of at least 99% by HPLC. A result below 98% is regarded as below standard, and below 95% as alarming.
Bear in mind, though, that HPLC only tells you how pure a sample is, not what is in it. A peptide can be 99.5% pure and still be the wrong molecule. Identity is confirmed only by mass spectrometry, which compares the mass of the molecule with the mass expected for the peptide on the label.
How do you verify a certificate independently?
A credible certificate carries a unique key, report number or QR code that lets you check the document at source. For the Janoshik laboratory, you enter the key from the certificate at janoshik.com/verify. The portal should return the same data the seller shows: the same purity, the same identity and the same test information. If the data match, the certificate is genuine. The batch number on the certificate should correspond to the batch currently on sale.
What are the warning signs of a counterfeit or poor quality?
- No certificates, or certificates shared only “on request” rather than publicly.
- A Janoshik-style certificate that does not verify in the Janoshik database.
- A claim of “100% purity”, which is unrealistic for solid-phase peptide synthesis.
- An out-of-date certificate, for example from 2022 for a batch sold in 2026.
- A certificate with an HPLC result alone, without identity confirmed by mass spectrometry.
- A preparation sold as research material without full labelling.
Frequently asked questions
How do you check whether a peptide is genuine?
Scratch off the hologram, read the code and verify it on the manufacturer’s website. Ask as well for a certificate of analysis from an independent laboratory and check its unique key at source.
What peptide purity is acceptable?
For research material the reference point is at least 99% by HPLC. A result below 98% is below standard.
Is HPLC purity on its own enough?
It is not. HPLC tells you how pure the sample is, but not what is in it. The identity of the peptide is confirmed by mass spectrometry.
What does a certificate shared only on request mean?
It is a warning sign. Credible suppliers publish certificates openly, and an on-request model makes verification harder.
Does a low price indicate a counterfeit?
Not on its own, but it is worth checking against documentation. A price far below the market, combined with missing certificates or an unverifiable code, is the combination that should stop a purchase.
Where this information comes from
The method of verifying the code and hologram comes from the authenticity page of the peptyd.org shop. The contents of a certificate of analysis, the distinction between in-house and independent testing, the HPLC purity thresholds (99%, 98%, 95%), the role of mass spectrometry, verification through the janoshik.com/verify portal and the warning signs come from material published by Durham Peptides. These pages were checked on 31 August 2026.