Vendor comparison · 2026
GHK-Cu vendors: 33 compared on COAs and price
DermatologicalAlso known as Copper peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper
Evidence tier
Multiple human trials
3 human trials · 1 preclinical
- Vendors carrying it
- 33
- 28 with a listed price
- Vendors with checkable COAs
- 19
- 21 publish any certificate
- Lots tested
- 42
- 40 naming a checkable lab
- Independent assays
- 0
- none on file yet
- Newest assay
- 23 Sept 2026
- oldest 18 Dec 2025
- Laboratories named
- 10
- most often Freedom Diagnostics Testing
- Median label gap
- 4.9%
- 52% of lots within 5% of label
- Median purity
- 99.84%
- 42 of 42 lots at 99% or above
- Lowest price per mg
- $0.370
- peer median $0.600
- Publications located
- 175
- researched since 1977
Source: PepIndex, an independent index of research-peptide vendors. No vendor can pay for a rank, every score is computed by a published formula, and every figure links to the document it was read from.
Featured in the October 2026 peptide COA report →
Next Gen Peptides has the most checkable GHK-Cu testing in this index: 7 lots assayed by ILS Laboratories, the newest on 23 Sept 2026. The lowest listed price is $0.370 per mg at Eternal Peptides, against a peer median of $0.600. 33 vendors carrying GHK-Cu are compared below. 19 publish at least one certificate naming a checkable laboratory, 42 lot records are on file, and none is an independently commissioned assay. Figures are PepIndex's own: it is an independent index of research-peptide vendors, no vendor can pay for a rank, and each figure links to the certificate it was read from.
Every vendor carrying GHK-Cu
| # | Vendor | Score here | Price / mg | Lots | Newest test | Laboratory | Mean purity | Label gap | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Origin LabsISO/IEC 17025 | 96.9100% | — | 2 / 2 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 99.8% | 16.0% | ||
| 2 | Next Gen PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 93.397% | $0.400 (67%) | 7 / 7 | ILS Laboratories | 99.9% | 5.1% | ||
| 3 | Ascend ScienceISO/IEC 17025 | 91.494% | $0.450 (75%) | 2 / 2 | Kovera Labs, ILS Laboratories | 99.8% | 5.5% | ||
| 4 | PeptidePlugs | 9194% | $0.400 (67%) | 2 / 2 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 99.8% | 9.8% | ||
| 5 | Bench Grade Peptides | 87.789% | $0.380 (63%) | 4 / 4 | AV Analytics, Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 99.7% | 6.1% | ||
| 6 | Amino ClubISO/IEC 17025Age-gated COAs | 86.298% | $0.580 (97%) | 3 / 3 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing, ILS Laboratories | 99.7% | 10.5% | ||
| 7 | NeuroLabs Research | 85.891% | $0.450 (75%) | 1 / 1 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 99.9% | 6.7% | ||
| 8 | Hydro Research PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 83.989% | — | 1 / 1 | ILS Laboratories | 99.9% | 0.0% | ||
| 9 | Ascension Peptides | 81.789% | $0.590 (98%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 10 | Simple Peptide | 80.892% | $0.550 (92%) | 2 / 2 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 99.9% | 17.2% | ||
| 11 | Modern AminosISO/IEC 17025COAs need an account | 79.697% | $0.640 (107%) | 2 / 2 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing, Vanguard Laboratory | 99.8% | 10.3% | ||
| 12 | Transition Biotech | 78.691% | $0.500 (83%) | 1 / 1 | Kovera Labs | 99.9% | 2.6% | ||
| 13 | One Aminos | 78.589% | $0.700 (117%) | 2 / 2 | United Laboratories | 99.8% | 5.5% | ||
| 14 | Koi PeptidesAge-gated COAs | 76.492% | $0.600 (100%) | 0 / 1 | Not named | 99.8% | 3.7% | ||
| 15 | Protide HealthAge-gated COAs | 76.492% | $0.650 (108%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 16 | Prime PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 75.796% | $0.600 (100%) | 1 / 1 | Horizon Analytical | 99.5% | 0.5% | ||
| 17 | Evo Labs Research | 75.687% | $0.500 (83%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 18 | Stealth Research Labs | 75.491% | $0.800 (133%) | 1 / 1 | Bioviridian Inc. | 99.7% | 1.8% | ||
| 19 | Good Science Bio | 74.271% | $0.400 (67%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 20 | CuroISO/IEC 17025 | 70.997% | $1.58 (250%) | 1 / 1 | BTLabs | 99.6% | 13.0% | ||
| 21 | Eternal Peptides | 6963% | $0.370 (62%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 22 | Northline LabsISO/IEC 17025 | 68.595% | $1.00 (167%) | 3 / 3 | ILS Laboratories | 99.6% | 2.7% | ||
| 23 | True Research Labs | 6668% | $0.540 (90%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 24 | Licensed Peptides | 60.687% | $1.15 (192%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 25 | Vial Drop Labs | 59.474% | — | 3 / 3 | KMD Analytical (KMD Group LLC) | 100.0% | 0.2% | ||
| 26 | Improved Peptides | 57.187% | $0.900 (150%) | 0 / 1 | Not named | 99.8% | 17.3% | ||
| 27 | Vertex Labs | 56.172% | — | 1 / 1 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 99.9% | 3.3% | ||
| 28 | Peptime | 55.557% | — | 1 / 1 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 99.9% | 9.7% | ||
| 29 | BioLongevity Labs | 54.572% | $1.70 (250%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 30 | GenX Peptides | 52.869% | $1.00 (167%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 31 | Evolve Peptides | 52.468% | $1.30 (217%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 32 | Biotech Peptides | 49.160% | $1.02 (170%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
| 33 | Mile High Compounds | 47.591% | $1.00 (167%) | 0 | — | — | — | — | no reportVisit site |
Independent assays
No independently commissioned assay of GHK-Cu is on file. All 42 records below were published by the vendor that sells the product, naming the laboratory shown. PepIndex does not yet commission its own assays, so nothing on this page establishes what is in a vial beyond the vendor’s own certificate. A record moves into this section the moment an assay commissioned by anyone other than the seller is indexed.
What the certificates show
42 of 42 lots at 99% or above; median 99.84%.
| Range | lots |
|---|---|
| <95% | 0 |
| 95–97% | 0 |
| 97–98% | 0 |
| 98–99% | 0 |
| 99–99.5% | 3 |
| ≥99.5% | 39 |
52% of lots within 5% of the labelled mass; median gap 4.9%.
| Range | lots |
|---|---|
| ≤2% | 6 |
| 2–5% | 16 |
| 5–10% | 10 |
| 10–20% | 9 |
| >20% | 1 |
28 vendors, $0.370 to $1.70; median $0.600.
| Range | vendors |
|---|---|
| $0–$0.500 | 7 |
| $0.500–$1.00 | 13 |
| $1.00–$1.50 | 6 |
| $1.50–$2.00 | 2 |
Purity and mass are read from each certificate as published; the label gap is |labeled − assayed| ÷ labeled. Every value behind these bars is in the certificate table below.
Laboratories used
| Laboratory | Lots | Vendors | Share | Verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Diagnostics TestingUS | 14 | 9 | 33% | Public lookup |
| ILS LaboratoriesUS | 13 | 5 | 31% | Public lookup |
| KMD Analytical (KMD Group LLC)US | 3 | 1 | 7% | Public lookup |
| AV Analytics | 2 | 1 | 5% | No public lookup found |
| Kovera Labs | 2 | 2 | 5% | No public lookup found |
| United LaboratoriesIN | 2 | 1 | 5% | Public lookup |
| Bioviridian Inc.US | 1 | 1 | 2% | Public lookup |
| BTLabs | 1 | 1 | 2% | No public lookup found |
| Horizon Analytical | 1 | 1 | 2% | No public lookup found |
| Vanguard LaboratoryUS | 1 | 1 | 2% | No public lookup found |
2 further records nameno checkable laboratory (a placeholder, a signature line or the vendor’s own name). They are listed in the certificate table but not counted as third-party testing.
Every certificate record
Score breakdown
The score has two halves: the research base — how long the compound has been studied and how much has been published — and the quality of the evidence the market produces for it, aggregated across every vendor that carries it: assayed purity, lot-to-lot consistency, readable third-party certificates and those vendors’ review record. It measures the evidence base, not the merits or safety of the substance.
Studied since 1977 — 49 years of published research
How long the compound has been studied. Fifteen years or more of published literature earns full marks; a newer compound earns less.
175 publications indexed in PubMed
The volume of published literature located. Full marks at fifty or more publications.
Mean assayed purity 99.8% across 42 certificates
Average assayed purity on the certificates published by vendors that carry this compound. Full marks at 99.5%+, nothing at 95% or below.
±0.15 pts purity across lots, mean label deviation 6.8%
How tightly assayed purity and labeled-versus-actual mass hold across different lots. Rewards reproducible manufacturing.
33 of 33 listing vendors publish an accessible certificate policy
Whether the vendors carrying this compound publish per-lot certificates anyone can read without an account.
40 of 42 certificates from a recognised independent lab
Share of certificates issued by a recognised third-party testing lab rather than an unnamed or self-named one.
What is GHK-Cu?
A copper-binding tripeptide found naturally in human plasma. It appears widely in topical cosmetic formulations and is also listed by research chemical vendors as a lyophilised powder.
Studied in published research for skin repair, wound healing and cosmetic anti-ageing.
Regulatory status
Used in regulated cosmetic products in some jurisdictions. Research-grade material listed by indexed vendors is labeled for laboratory research use only.
What the research examines
The areas of published research this compound appears in. These describe what the literature has studied — never a claim of benefit, effect or suitability for any use.
Published research
Published work includes laboratory studies of skin and wound models and cosmetic formulation research. Assays for this compound must account for the copper complex; certificates that report peptide purity without addressing copper content are incomplete, and this index notes where that occurs.
- Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data — International journal of molecular sciences (2018)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in International journal of molecular sciences (2018).
- The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide — Aging pathobiology and therapeutics (2020)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Aging pathobiology and therapeutics (2020).
- Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) rescues cigarette smoking-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via a sirtuin 1-dependent pathway — Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle (2023)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle (2023).
- GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration — BioMed research international (2015)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in BioMed research international (2015).
- Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: Advantages, problems and prospective — BioImpacts : BI (2025)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in BioImpacts : BI (2025).
- Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions — Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (2026)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (2026).
- The glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex attenuates lung inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis by targeting peroxiredoxin 6 — Redox biology (2024)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Redox biology (2024).
- Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians — The American journal of sports medicine (2026)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in The American journal of sports medicine (2026).
Indexed studies3 human-evidence of 4
- In vitro and formulation work on GHK-Cu in skin models — In vitro
Cell-culture and cosmetic formulation work. Assay design for this compound must account for the copper complex; results reporting peptide purity alone do not characterise the material.
- Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin — Human — controlled trial, 2006
To evaluate the role of skin care products that contain a copper tripeptide complex, glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) (GHK-Cu), in treating carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser-resurfaced skin. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria underwent circumoral skin resurfacing using a CO(2) laser at standard settings. Patients were then randomized to receive posttreatment skin regimens with or without GHK-Cu. Evaluations for erythema throughout the posttreatment period were performed usin…
- A prospective randomized evaluator-blinded trial of two potential wound healing agents for the treatment of venous stasis ulcers — Human — controlled trial, 1992
Chronic wounds such as venous stasis ulcers have become a socioeconomic problem. Even with successful initial management, the recurrence rate approaches 70%. With the advent of new wound healing agents, nonoperative attempts to heal these wounds appear indicated. This study reports a prospective randomized evaluator-blinded trial comparing two potential wound healing agents to an inert vehicle placebo. Eighty-six evaluable patients completed the trial. Silver sulfadiazine 1% …
- Evaluation of the effects of topical tripeptide-copper complex and zinc oxide on open-wound healing in rabbits — Human — controlled trial, 2006
In this study the clinical and histopathological effects of topically applied tripeptide-copper complex (TCC) and zinc oxide on open-wound healing in rabbits was evaluated. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: TCC, zinc oxide and no treatment. One full thickness wound was created on each side of the dorsal midline in each rabbit. Wound margins were traced on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 and topical TCC and zinc oxide were applied daily for 21 days to each rab…
Evidence digest
What the research on GHK-Cu actually shows
The indexed literature on GHK-Cu includes human clinical or observational records (3 human-clinical or observational records, 1 in-vitro record). This digest describes the shape of that evidence and links the records behind it. It does not judge whether GHK-Cu is safe or effective for any purpose, and nothing here is medical advice — the material sold by the vendors in this index is labeled for laboratory research use only.
3 things the literature does not establish →
PepIndex describes what literature exists. We do not interpret it, assess clinical significance, or publish quantities, protocols or instructions for use.