AssayIndex
Chromatography

Plate count (N)

Column efficiency: N = 5.54 (t/w½)². Higher is sharper. The index requires N ≥ 20,000 for a main peak.

Related terms

System suitability
Injections demonstrating the chromatographic system was performing acceptably when the sample was run. Required by every pharmacopoeia, documented on almost no research-peptide certificate.
Plate height
Column length divided by plate count. A physical measure of the efficiency per unit length, independent of column length.

Where this term appears

The glossary exists to make record pages readable without a chemistry degree. Every technical term on a report resolves here.