On this page
Abbreviations are everywhere in technical writing. This page expands the ones the Academy uses, so an unfamiliar acronym is never a roadblock.
The content is a reference list, educational and for laboratory contexts only.
Key takeaways
- Expands the abbreviations used across the Academy in one place.
- Acronyms are spelled out on first use in each article; this is the quick reference.
- Includes common units (EU, ppm, ppb) alongside method and document acronyms.
- ppm and ppb differ by a factor of a thousand — read units carefully.
- For the concepts, follow the linked articles or the glossary.
How to use this list
Technical writing is full of abbreviations, and this list expands the ones used across the High Tide Academy. Where an acronym appears in an article, it is spelled out on first use; this page gathers them for quick reference. For the concepts behind the abbreviations, follow the linked articles or the glossary.
Acronyms
| Acronym | Expansion |
|---|---|
| COA | Certificate of Analysis |
| RUO | Research Use Only |
| HPLC | High-Performance Liquid Chromatography |
| LC | Liquid Chromatography |
| MS | Mass Spectrometry |
| LC-MS | Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry |
| m/z | Mass-to-charge ratio |
| EU | Endotoxin Unit |
| ppm | Parts per million |
| ppb | Parts per billion |
| LOD | Limit of Detection |
| LOQ | Limit of Quantitation |
| QC | Quality Control |
| SDS | Safety Data Sheet |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment |
| FDA | U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| LPS | Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) |
A note on units
Several entries above are units rather than acronyms in the strict sense — EU (endotoxin units), ppm, and ppb. They are included because reading them correctly matters: ppm and ppb differ by a factor of a thousand, and endotoxin units are always read against a specified limit. The Reference Charts page includes a units quick-reference.
Frequently asked questions
Certificate of Analysis — a batch-specific document reporting analytical test results against specifications.
HPLC is High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (separation, often for purity). LC-MS adds mass spectrometry for mass information (supporting identity).
Research Use Only — a designation indicating a material is intended solely for laboratory research and not for human or veterinary use.
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Continue learning
- Laboratory Glossary — full definitions of the concepts behind these acronyms.
- Reference Charts — including a units quick-reference.
- Understanding HPLC and LC-MS — the methods behind the abbreviations.
- Research Use Only Explained — what RUO means.
Research Use Only
All materials referenced are for laboratory research purposes only and are not for human or veterinary use. This article is educational and does not provide medical advice, dosing, or instructions for use.