Quality claims for research compounds usually come down to two abbreviations: HPLC and FTIR. They answer different questions, and neither one is enough on its own. This article explains how each method works, what it can and cannot detect, and how they fit together in the Chemyo quality control process.
FTIR: what is this molecule?
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy passes infrared light through a sample and measures which wavelengths are absorbed. Chemical bonds such as C=O, N-H, C-F and C≡N absorb at characteristic wavenumbers, so every molecule produces its own pattern of bands, especially in the “fingerprint region” below about 1500 cm-1. The test compares the sample spectrum with a certified reference standard and reports how closely they match.
Strengths: fast, needs little sample, and confirms identity. It will tell RAD-140 apart from RAD-150, or GW-501516 from GW-0742.
Limitations: it is not quantitative, and it does not reliably detect impurities below a few per cent.
HPLC: how pure is it?
High-performance liquid chromatography pumps a dissolved sample through a packed column. Different compounds travel through the column at different speeds, so they come out (elute) at different retention times, where a detector (usually UV) records them as peaks. Purity is reported as the main peak’s area as a percentage of all peaks. UHPLC (ultra-high-performance) uses smaller particles and higher pressure for sharper separation, and many Chemyo reports use it.
Strengths: separates and quantifies impurities, and with a calibration curve it can also measure concentration.
Limitations: on its own it does not prove identity, because a wrong compound can produce a single, clean peak. It also misses impurities that do not absorb at the detection wavelength.
LC-MS and other tests
Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) adds molecular-mass information to each peak, which makes it the strongest single method for identity and for detecting substitutes. NMR spectroscopy gives detailed structural information. Karl Fischer titration measures water content, and residual-solvent and heavy-metal tests are used for some materials.
Why concentration needs its own test
For a liquid solution, a pure compound dissolved at the wrong strength is still a failed product. A separate quantitative assay measures mg/ml against a reference curve. That third test is what separates a documented solution from a bottle with a purity certificate for the raw powder. The trade-offs between formats are covered in liquid vs powder SARMs.
Comparison table
| Question | FTIR | HPLC / UHPLC | LC-MS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is it the right compound? | Yes | Not alone | Yes |
| How pure is it? | No | Yes | Yes |
| How much is in a solution? | No | Yes, with calibration | Yes, with calibration |
| Detects unlisted substitutes? | Partly | Partly | Yes |
How Chemyo uses these tests
Every lot is tested by FTIR for identity and by HPLC or UHPLC for purity. Solutions also go through a concentration assay. The results are published for each batch in the lab reports library, and the product pages, from the Cardarine solution to the 9-ME-BC powder, give the headline numbers. To work through a real certificate, read how to read a SARM COA.
Research use only. Every Chemyo product is sold for laboratory research. Nothing in this article is dosing, medical or veterinary advice. See the terms and conditions.