Compliance
Compliance & RUO Policy
The plain-language statement of how Keystone Research Supply operates: what we sell, who we sell it to, how we verify quality, and what we require of every researcher who orders from us. This page is canonical — when policies conflict with marketing copy elsewhere on the site, this page governs.
The Policy in One Sentence
Every product sold by Keystone Research Supply is supplied exclusively For Research Use Only (RUO), is not a drug, supplement, food, or cosmetic, and is not intended for human or veterinary consumption under any circumstance.
What “Research Use Only” Means
“Research Use Only” (RUO) refers to materials intended exclusively for in vitro laboratory research, scientific experimentation, and educational use consistent with 21 CFR and applicable U.S. federal guidelines. RUO products:
- Are not drugs, biologics, dietary supplements, food, or cosmetics.
- Have not been evaluated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate any disease or medical condition.
- Are not for compounding, reformulation, or administration in any form.
Regulatory Framework
Keystone Research Supply operates under U.S. federal regulations governing the sale of research-use chemical reagents and laboratory materials. The relevant framework includes:
- 21 CFR (FDA regulations) — we label, market, and sell only as RUO and never as drugs or dietary supplements.
- FTC truth-in-advertising — we do not make therapeutic, weight-loss, anti-aging, or other health claims about our products.
- Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) — the company is organized under Nevada law and operates from Las Vegas, NV.
- State-level consumer-protection statutes — we honor CCPA and equivalent state privacy obligations. See our Privacy Policy.
Customer Attestation
Before placing any order, a researcher must complete a Research Use Only attestation. By signing, the customer certifies that:
- They are at least 21 years of age.
- They are acting in a research, scientific, or educational capacity.
- Products will be used solely for in vitro research and laboratory study.
- They will not administer products to themselves, any other person, or any animal.
- They will not resell, redistribute, or transfer products for any purpose other than legitimate research collaboration with another verified researcher.
- They will not make any medical or therapeutic claim based on Keystone products.
The signed attestation is logged with the account and is required to remain on file as a condition of continued catalog access.
Quality & Testing
Quality is the only compliance signal that survives intent. Our standards:
- Independent third-party testing. Every batch is submitted to an accredited laboratory we do not own and do not pay outside the test fee. We do not run our own assays and publish them as a “COA.”
- Full COA archive. Every Certificate of Analysis is published on the product page — including for batches that failed and were destroyed. Disclosed failure is a mark of integrity.
- Batch traceability. Each order references the specific batch number; customers can cross-reference the published COA at any time.
- Identity + purity. Our standard panel includes HPLC purity, mass-spectrometry identity confirmation, and where applicable, residual-solvent and endotoxin testing.
- Failed-batch disclosure. A failed batch and its associated COA are never silently removed. They appear in the “Historical Batches” section of the relevant product page.
Scheduled-Substance Posture
Keystone does not sell DEA-scheduled controlled substances. The catalog is limited to research peptides and amino-acid derivatives that are lawful to supply for in vitro research in the United States. If a product becomes subject to new scheduling or regulatory restriction, it is removed from the catalog immediately.
Shipping & Jurisdictional Limits
Products ship from our facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shipping is limited to U.S. jurisdictions where the sale of research-use peptides is permitted. International shipping is not currently offered. Customers are responsible for ensuring that receipt of products in their jurisdiction is lawful. If state-level law changes, we reserve the right to suspend shipping to that jurisdiction without notice.
No Medical Claims
Keystone Research Supply does not endorse, suggest, or imply that any product is safe or effective for human or animal use. References to mechanism of action, peer-reviewed studies, or scientific literature on this site exist solely to support legitimate research activity. Nothing on this site — including the Research Library and Journal — is medical advice. Any reproduction of our content that adds therapeutic claims is a violation of our Terms of Service and will be referred to our legal counsel.
Enforcement
Keystone reserves the right to refuse service, cancel pending orders, and terminate accounts where misuse is suspected, including (but not limited to):
- Attempts to bypass or fraudulently complete the RUO attestation.
- Evidence of consumer resale or downstream redistribution for human or veterinary use.
- Any marketing of Keystone products with medical, therapeutic, anti-aging, weight-loss, or dietary-supplement claims.
- Any attempt to obtain products in jurisdictions where their sale is restricted.
Records of the COA, the customer attestation, and the order history are retained for compliance review.
Privacy & Data Handling
Keystone collects only the information needed to verify a researcher account, fulfill an order, and meet our compliance and tax obligations. We do not sell personal information. The full statement is in our Privacy Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Keystone Research Supply products FDA-approved?
No. All Keystone Research Supply products are sold strictly For Research Use Only (RUO). They have not been evaluated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not drugs, dietary supplements, food, or cosmetics. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate any disease or medical condition.
What does "Research Use Only" mean in practice?
Research Use Only (RUO) refers to materials intended exclusively for in vitro laboratory research, scientific experimentation, and educational use consistent with 21 CFR and applicable U.S. federal guidelines. Products may be used for in vitro experiments, instrument calibration, assay development, and analytical reference. They may not be administered to humans or animals, sold to consumers, or used in any clinical or therapeutic context.
How is the identity and purity of each batch verified?
Every batch is submitted to an accredited third-party laboratory we do not own. The resulting Certificate of Analysis (COA) — including HPLC purity, mass spectrometry identity confirmation, and where applicable additional residual-solvent and endotoxin testing — is published on the product page. Failed batches and their COAs are published as well; we never silently remove failed results.
What is required before a customer can place an order?
A customer must (1) create an account and have it verified by our compliance team, (2) attest that they are at least 21 years of age, (3) confirm they are acting in a research, scientific, or educational capacity, and (4) sign a Research Use Only attestation. The attestation is logged with the account and is required to remain on file as a condition of continued catalog access.
Will Keystone make medical or therapeutic claims about its products?
No. Keystone does not endorse, suggest, or imply that any product is safe or effective for human or animal use. References to mechanism of action, peer-reviewed studies, or scientific literature on this site exist solely to support legitimate research activity. Nothing on this site is medical advice.
Does Keystone sell any DEA-scheduled substances?
No. Keystone does not sell controlled substances or DEA-scheduled compounds. The catalog is limited to research peptides and amino-acid derivatives that are lawful to supply for in vitro research in the United States.
Where does Keystone ship?
Products ship from our facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shipping is limited to U.S. jurisdictions where the sale of research-use peptides is permitted. International shipping is not currently offered. Customers are responsible for ensuring that receipt of products in their jurisdiction is lawful.
What happens if a customer is suspected of misusing a product?
Keystone reserves the right to refuse service, cancel pending orders, and terminate accounts where misuse is suspected — including attempts to bypass attestation, evidence of consumer resale, or any marketing of Keystone products with medical or dietary-supplement claims. Account terminations are accompanied by a full record of the COA, attestation, and order history retained for compliance review.
Compliance Questions
Compliance questions can be sent to compliance@keystoneresearch.shop or via our Contact page.