USP is a standard, not a single chemical, so there's no one set of properties for the whole category. What USP grade gives you is a set of tested limits for a specific substance, covering its identity, its assay, and the impurities that matter for that material. The product pages show how that plays out. Glycerin 99% lists an assay of 99.0 to 101.0%. Caffeine Powder runs 98.5 to 101.0%. Propylene Glycol 99.5% is listed at a minimum of 99.5%. Ethanol 200 Proof lists ethanol at a minimum of 99.5% with methanol capped at 200 ppm. Glycerin and propylene glycol are liquids, and caffeine is a crystalline powder, so form changes from product to product. Before you order, check the assay, the listed limits and the lot COA against your own spec.
COMMON APPLICATIONS
Buyers use USP grade chemicals wherever a finished product reaches people. Pharmacies and compounding labs use USP water, PEG 3350 and glycerin to prepare creams, ointments and solutions. Supplement makers use USP/FCC ingredients such as ascorbic acid and caffeine in powders and oral liquids. Personal care formulators use glycerin and propylene glycol in lotions, soaps and skin care. Extraction labs and flavor makers use USP/FCC ethanol for tinctures and extracts. Quality and maintenance teams use USP isopropyl alcohol for equipment cleaning and surface prep.
GRADES EXPLAINED
Not every label that says USP means exactly the same thing, so here's how to read what you see in the catalog. A plain USP label means the chemical meets the United States Pharmacopeia monograph for that substance. USP/NF adds the National Formulary, which covers excipients such as binders and ointment bases. USP/FCC means the product also meets Food Chemicals Codex standards, which is why those items work for supplements and food use. A few products stack several standards, like Methanol ≥99.8% ACS Reagent/USP/NF Grade.
USP also isn't the same job as ACS reagent grade. ACS follows American Chemical Society specifications for analytical lab work, while USP follows the pharmacopeia standard for pharmaceutical use. Lab Grade is a different tier again and isn't suitable for food, drug or medicinal use. If you're unsure which one your process calls for, check your spec first and the product name second.
TYPES & GRADES AT A GLANCE
Meets the United States Pharmacopeia monograph. A good fit for actives, solvents and water.
Meets USP and Food Chemicals Codex standards. Built for supplements, oral liquids and flavor work.
Adds National Formulary standards for excipients such as binders and bases.
Meets all three standards. Propylene glycol and glycerin sit here.
For analytical lab work. Some products, like Methanol ≥99.8%, also meet USP and NF.
National Formulary excipient standards, often bought alongside USP ingredients.
Food Chemicals Codex standards for food and beverage production.
Select USP products only. Check the product name.
Select USP products only. Check the product name.
WHY BUY FROM LAB ALLEY
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Trusted by 256,000+ customers. Labs, schools and production teams keep coming back for USP Grade Chemicals, so you're ordering from a supplier that knows how to get this done.
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99.5% of orders ship in 1 to 2 business days. Your production schedule shouldn't wait on a truck.
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98.9% inventory accuracy. The size you see is the size you get, with no backorder surprise after checkout.
Lab Alley is ISO 9001 certified for quality management. In this category, Kosher and Halal certification applies only to select products, including Ethanol 200 Proof (100%) Undenatured Alcohol, USP/FCC Food Grade, Kosher, Halal, Propylene Glycol 99.5% USP/NF/FCC/Food Grade, Kosher, Halal, Glycerin 99% USP/NF/FCC/Food Grade, Kosher, Halal and Caffeine Powder, USP/FCC/Food Grade, Kosher, Halal. PEG 3350 and Camphor Crystals list Kosher only. Water USP, Mannitol, Urea and Zinc Oxide do not list Kosher or Halal. Check the product name before you order.
Related: Browse the full Grade category to compare every grade Lab Alley carries.