HPLC vs. mass spectrometry: what each test proves
One measures how pure a sample is, the other confirms what it is. Why a credible COA reports both.
Dr. Elena Varga
Head of Quality · · 7 min read
Overview
High-performance liquid chromatography separates the components of a sample; the area of the main peak relative to the total gives the purity figure.
What to check
Mass spectrometry measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions, confirming that the main component has the expected molecular weight. Purity without identity, or identity without purity, tells only half the story.