Trust & methodology
How the Vendor Trust Index is computed
The Trust Index is a code-derived, unpurchasable transparency readout of a vendor's documented evidence trail and conduct — not a safety or efficacy verdict, and never a directory rank or sort order. This page publishes the exact weights and version history behind it.
Weighted evidence pillars
Five pillars, summing to 100. Applied uniformly — there is no per-vendor lever.Tier bands
Where the composite integer lands — an evidence-framed band, not a safety verdict.Adverse Records on File0–29
At least one verified disqualifying fact on record — e.g. an independently-measured purity misrepresentation and/or stacked enforcement and conduct records. Caution warranted.
Limited / Cautioned Record30–49
Substantial documented concerns — e.g. active enforcement or a corroborated non-delivery pattern. Read the cited facts.
Mixed Record50–64
Meaningful strengths alongside documented gaps or unresolved questions. Read the cited facts and weigh them yourself.
Documented Record65–82
A strong, well-cited record with independent corroboration and no disqualifying facts; minor gaps only.
Extensively Documented83–100
Broad, independently-verifiable disclosures with a clean conduct record and transparent identity. Not a safety guarantee (RUO).
Current version
Every recompute is versioned and audited — /admin's Scoring & methodology view.Live version
Live since Jul 7, 2026
What changed
Initial published methodology (v1.0 baseline). The Vendor Trust Index is computed only from cited facts across five pillars — claims-vs-reality, testing transparency, regulatory conduct, operational transparency, and reputation integrity — and is unpurchasable, deterministic, and never sorts the directory.
Version history
No screen anywhere in PeptideCompass writes a per-vendor score, /compare order, or directory rank — the index is computed only from cited facts and can never be purchased into a better position. Absence of evidence is never scored as badness; a thin or unverified record shows an honest Provisional state, not a deflated number. Research use only.