How to Document Peptide Chain of Custody

Start before the shipment arrives

The record should identify the approved supplier, purchase order, product name, exact sequence or structure, lot number, quantity, and expected storage conditions.

Document receipt

Record arrival date and time, package condition, temperature indicator, seal integrity, quantity, and any deviation. Photograph damaged or questionable shipments before opening.

Link every container to the source lot

Internal labels should preserve the original lot number and add a unique laboratory identifier. If material is divided into aliquots, record parent-child relationships, dates, operators, and container types.

Track storage and access

Maintain storage-location logs, temperature records, freeze-thaw events, transfers, and authorized-user access. A material moved from freezer to bench should remain traceable.

Connect experiments to material history

Protocols, notebooks, and data files should identify the exact lot and aliquot. Complaints, unexpected results, and recalls can then be investigated without guessing.

Close the record

Document remaining quantity, disposal method, return, transfer, or archival status. Retain records according to the laboratory's quality system and applicable requirements.

This article is provided for scientific and educational purposes. It does not describe or recommend human or veterinary use. Research findings may be limited by study design, model selection, material identity, sample size, or lack of independent replication.