Scoring Transparency

KYP Vendor Score Methodology

Every research peptide supplier in our directory receives a transparent, formula-based KYP Vendor Score (0–100) and a letter grade (A–D). Here's exactly how we calculate it.

Why We Score Vendors

Most research peptide supplier directories either list vendors alphabetically or sort by paid placement. Neither approach helps researchers make informed decisions about product quality and safety.

The KYP Vendor Score uses publicly available signals — primarily certificate of analysis (COA) transparency and community feedback — to rank suppliers on what actually matters for research integrity: can you verify what's in the vial?

Important Limitation

The KYP Vendor Score is based on transparency and community feedback, not on independent lab test results. A high score means a vendor is open about their testing — it does not constitute an independent verification of actual product purity. Always review the vendor's own COAs and cross-reference with community forums.

Letter Grade Scale

Excellent

80–100 points

Good

60–79 points

Fair

40–59 points

Poor

<40 points

Score Breakdown (Total: 100 pts)

The five factors below add up to a maximum of 100 points. Each factor is calculated independently and the results are summed.

COA Transparency

Max 40 pts

Certificate of Analysis quality is the single most important factor for research chemical safety. We award points based on how transparent and rigorous a vendor's testing is.

Third-party per batch

40 pts

Independent lab tests every individual batch you receive — the gold standard.

Third-party tested

25 pts

Regular independent testing, though not guaranteed per batch.

In-house only

10 pts

Testing conducted by the vendor's own laboratory — some quality control, but not independently verified.

No COA / unknown

0 pts

No testing documentation provided. These vendors also receive a ⚠ warning flag.

Community Rating

Max 30 pts

Real researcher experiences are a critical signal. We weight community ratings at up to 30 points, but only when a vendor has collected at least 3 approved reviews — below this threshold, the score is set to zero to avoid small sample bias.

Formula

(rating ÷ 5) × 30

A 5.0-rated vendor with ≥3 reviews earns the full 30 points; a 3.0-rated vendor earns 18 points.

Minimum reviews

3 reviews

Fewer than 3 approved reviews means 0 community rating points.

Verified Status

Max 15 pts

Verified vendors have been reviewed by our editorial team and confirmed to be active, legitimate research chemical suppliers with accurate information.

Verified

15 pts

Vendor information reviewed and confirmed by KnowYourPeptide editors.

Unverified

0 pts

Vendor information has not been editorially reviewed.

Longevity

Max 10 pts

Time in business is a proxy for reliability. Vendors that have operated for 5+ years have demonstrated sustained commitment to quality and customer service.

Formula

min(years ÷ 5, 1) × 10

A vendor operating for 5+ years earns the full 10 points; one operating for 2.5 years earns 5 points.

Cap

10 pts max

Points are capped at 10 regardless of how long a vendor has operated.

Review Volume

Max 5 pts

A larger review pool creates more reliable rating data. Up to 5 points are awarded based on the number of approved reviews a vendor has collected.

Formula

min(reviews ÷ 20, 1) × 5

A vendor with 20+ approved reviews earns the full 5 points; 10 reviews earns 2.5 points.

Cap

5 pts max

Points are capped at 5 regardless of review volume.

The Full Formula

// KYP Vendor Score formula

score = coa_pts + rating_pts + verified_pts + longevity_pts + review_vol_pts

// Where:

coa_pts = third-party-batch→40 | third-party→25 | in-house→10 | none→0

rating_pts = (rating / 5) × 30 // only if reviewCount ≥ 3, else 0

verified_pts = verified ? 15 : 0

longevity_pts = min(years_active / 5, 1) × 10

review_vol_pts = min(review_count / 20, 1) × 5

Warning Flags

⚠ No COA Transparency

Any vendor with coaType = "none" receives a ⚠ warning flag on their directory card and detail page, regardless of their overall score. This is a critical risk signal for researchers who rely on compound identity verification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are scores updated in real time?

Yes. KYP scores are recalculated on every API request using the latest verified data. As new reviews are approved and vendor details are updated, scores change immediately.

Can vendors pay to improve their score?

No. The KYP Vendor Score is entirely formula-based using objective criteria. Vendors cannot purchase ranking improvements. Verified status is awarded by editorial review, not payment.

How do I submit a vendor for inclusion?

Use the 'Submit a Supplier' form on the Vendor Directory page. New vendors undergo editorial review before receiving a Verified badge.

My vendor has great COAs but a low score — why?

The rating and review volume factors are significant (35 pts combined). A vendor with third-party-batch COAs (40 pts) and verified status (15 pts) starts at 55 pts — a 'C' grade. Accumulated community reviews and longevity push the score into 'A' or 'B' territory.

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Browse all research peptide suppliers ranked by KYP Vendor Score.

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