Research use resources
GHK-Cu lab report: what to check on a GHK-Cu COA
GHK-Cu is two things in one powder: a three amino acid peptide, Gly-His-Lys, and a copper ion held by it. Its lab report has to account for both, which is why reports don’t always describe it the same way: some name the copper complex, others the peptide alone. This guide covers what a GHK-Cu certificate of analysis (COA) should show and walks through our own report. For the basics of any report, see How to read a peptide lab report.
The short version
What GHK-Cu is, chemically
GHK is the tripeptide glycine, histidine, lysine (Gly-His-Lys). GHK-Cu is that peptide bound to one copper ion. The amino group at the start of the chain and the histidine side chain hold the copper in place, which gives the powder its blue color.
Our product page lists GHK-Cu as the copper complex, not the free peptide. When the copper binds, it takes the place of two hydrogen atoms, which the peptide releases as hydrogen ions.
| Reference fact | GHK-Cu, as on our product page |
|---|---|
| Sequence | Gly-His-Lys (copper complex) |
| Form | Freeze dried (lyophilized) powder, 50mg and 100mg vials |
Purity: a small, water friendly peptide
Purity comes from HPLC: the sample runs through a column, and a detector set around 214 nm draws a peak for each component, mostly by reading its peptide bonds. GHK has only two. Like other very small, water friendly peptides, it comes off a standard C18 column early, not far from where the solvent itself shows up. So on a GHK-Cu report, look for a main peak that stands clear of the very start of the run.
Our report used reversed phase HPLC on a C18 column with detection at 214 nm. Its chromatogram shows one tall peak labeled GHK-Cu, a little after 3 minutes, and the result is 99.614% against Kovera’s standard of more than 98%. For how purity differs from the amount in the vial, see Purity vs content.
Identity: what mass spec confirms
Mass spectrometry confirms identity by weighing the molecule, and for GHK-Cu there is more than one right answer. The copper complex can show up, with the pattern of signals typical of copper. And in the acidic solvents commonly used for this test, some of the copper can come off the peptide, so Gly-His-Lys on its own can show up too.
Either kind of signal points to GHK. The copper complex is the one that shows the copper is there. The peptide on its own confirms GHK but says nothing about its copper. That is why some reports list the peptide without its copper, and this is normal for this compound. Either way, the report should state that the measured mass matches the compound named on it.
Our report lists identity as Identity Confirmation (LC-MS), with GHK-Cu as the reference and GHK-Cu as the result. It gives the result as a name and doesn’t print the masses.
Content: the copper counts in the weight
Content is the milligrams of GHK-Cu the lab measured, not the weight of the powder, which can also hold salts and a little water. GHK-Cu has one more thing to watch: the copper is part of the complex’s weight. The same amount of peptide counted as the copper complex or as the peptide alone gives different numbers, so a content figure is only comparable when you know which one it describes.
Our 100mg report found 102.88 mg against a reference of about 100 mg. Like every report, it describes the vial that was tested, so other vials can land a little above or below that.
Our GHK-Cu report
Our GHK-Cu 100mg size is listed with a report from Kovera Labs: report KVR-2026-58C905, certified September 7, 2026, batch 0001, labeled quantity 100 mg. It shows purity 99.614%, net content 102.88 mg, identity confirmed as GHK-Cu by LC-MS, and an endotoxin screen passed against a limit of 0.5 EU/mL or less. An endotoxin screen checks for one kind of bacterial contamination; it is not a sterility test. The sample information also lists the form (lyophilized powder) and the colors of the vial’s cap and crimp seal (blue and silver).
The product page notes that the report applies to the tested sample and that the current lot is not confirmed as that sample. Our research materials page also links a Janoshik test for a 50mg vial (#169279), which opens on Janoshik’s own site. GHK-Cu is also part of our GLOW and KLOW blends, which have reports of their own; see How to read a peptide blend lab report.
Checking a GHK-Cu report, step by step
- The name: GHK-Cu, the copper complex of Gly-His-Lys, matching the product and size you are looking at.
- Purity from HPLC, 98% or higher, with the main peak clear of the start of the run.
- Identity from mass spec: GHK-Cu, or the peptide without its copper, as long as the report makes clear which one it means.
- Content in milligrams, close to the size on the label (50mg or 100mg).
- The report number and batch, matching what the product page lists (for our 100mg: KVR-2026-58C905, batch 0001).
Common questions
Why do some reports list GHK without its copper?
Some labs report Gly-His-Lys without its copper, and others report the copper complex. It is the same peptide either way. The difference is the copper ion, minus the two hydrogen atoms it replaces. Either can be a correct identity result, as long as the report makes clear which one it means.
What do cap color and crimp color mean on the report?
They describe the vial that was sent in for testing: the color of its cap and of the metal seal crimped around it. Ours reads blue and silver. Together with the batch and labeled quantity, they help tie the report to the sample that was tested.
Where do I find the GHK-Cu report?
On the GHK-Cu product page under Specifications & documentation, and on our research materials page, which lists every report.