Sublevel / Research library
Research Terminology Explained
Lot or batch
An identifier assigned to a defined production or handling group. Traceability requires reliable records linking the identifier to materials and samples.
Identity
Evidence that the target chemical entity is present, assessed using an appropriate analytical method.
Purity
An estimate of how much of a measured signal or sample corresponds to the target component, subject to the method and reporting basis.
Assay or content
A quantitative measurement of an analyte, often expressed in mass or concentration with an explicitly stated method.
Limit of detection
The lowest level at which an analyte can be distinguished from background under defined conditions; it is not necessarily the level at which it can be reliably quantified.
Certificate of analysis
A document reporting specified tests and findings for an identified sample or lot. Its evidentiary value depends on authenticity, completeness, and traceability.