Glossary
Research Materials Glossary
Definitions of the documentation and supply terms used across this site. These are our own plain-language definitions for reference.
Documentation
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) — a document recording information about a specific lot of a material.
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — the standardized document describing a material’s hazards, handling, and emergency information.
- Lot / batch — an identifier tying a physical material to its production run and its documentation.
- Chain of custody — a record of the handling and transfer of a material to support traceability.
Grades & properties
- Analytical grade — a material meeting specifications suitable for analytical work; defined by documentation, not by label alone.
- Reagent grade — a grade meeting recognized reagent specifications.
- Research grade / research material — a material supplied for laboratory research, characterized by its documentation.
- Hygroscopic — tending to absorb moisture from the air; relevant to storage and handling.
- Amphoteric — able to act as both an acid and a base (as an amino acid does).
Compliance
- Research Use Only (RUO) — a designation that a material is offered for legitimate laboratory, analytical, scientific, and educational research only, and not for human or animal consumption.
See Quality & Documentation and the FAQ.
For Research Use Only. Not for human or animal consumption. Nothing here is medical advice, a health claim, or usage guidance. No statement has been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. See our Disclaimer.