Understand the source comparison
ARA-290 Real vs Fake: Product Comparison
Lyophilized Appearance Uniform white/off-white compact cake, no discoloration Yellow tint, grainy texture, or loose powder with visible layers Visual inspection under bright light Discoloration or non-uniform texture indicates oxidative degradation or synthesi
No winner is assigned.
This page preserves a source comparison for education. It does not add a rating, recommendation or clinical judgment.
- Lyophilized Appearance
- Uniform white/off-white compact cake, no discoloration
- Yellow tint, grainy texture, or loose powder with visible layers
- Visual inspection under bright light
- Discoloration or non-uniform texture indicates oxidative degradation or synthesis contamination. Reject immediately
- Dissolution Time
- Complete dissolution in bacteriostatic water within 45–60 seconds at room temperature
- Incomplete dissolution after 90+ seconds, persistent cloudiness or sediment
- Timed reconstitution test with 2 mL bacteriostatic water
- Dissolution failure is the single most reliable in-lab authenticity test. Counterfeit peptides cannot replicate ARA-290's hydrophilic profile
- Vial Sealing
- Tamper-evident crimped aluminum seal, flush rubber stopper, no pre-puncture marks
- Loose-fitting cap, stopper with needle marks, or adhesive seal that peels cleanly
- Physical inspection before reconstitution
- Pre-punctured stoppers indicate repackaged or diluted product. Authenticity cannot be verified
- Batch Documentation
- Laser-etched or thermal-printed batch number resistant to alcohol wipes, COA with HPLC chromatogram
- Inkjet-printed sticker that smudges under friction, generic or missing COA
- Alcohol pad test on label, COA verification request
- Legitimate suppliers provide batch-specific HPLC data within 24 hours of request. Absence of third-party testing is a red flag
- Reconstituted pH
- pH 5.0–6.5 in bacteriostatic water
- pH below 4.5 or above 7.0 indicating acidic/alkaline contamination
- Calibrated pH test strips on reconstituted solution
- pH deviations suggest contamination with synthesis byproducts or filler compounds. Discard and source from verified supplier
- Packaging Standards
- Sealed box with desiccant, printed insert listing peptide sequence and molecular weight
- Bubble mailer with no temperature control, handwritten or photocopied inserts
- Packaging inspection on receipt
- Professional suppliers include desiccant and cold packs. Absence indicates storage degradation during transit