Objective: To develop a certified reference material (CRM) of stachyose according to Directives for the Work of CRM (3) Reference Materials: General and Statistical Principle for Certification (GB/T 15000.3-2008). Method: Stachyose was prepared by extraction

fermentation

separation and purification with the dried rhizome of Stachys floridana as the raw materials. The structure of stachyose was confirmed by element analysis

UV

IR

HR-MS

NMR and X-single crystal diffraction. The samples of stachyose were divided into 400 bottles with 10 mg/bottle. Then the homogeneity test

stability test and quantitative analysis were carried out by high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light-scattering detector. Result: The samples showed good homogeneity at 95% confidence interval and good stability within 24 months; the certified purity value was 99.62% with an expanded uncertainty of 0.13%. The samples were checked and accepted by Standardization Administration of China

and were consistent with the technical requirement of a series of GB/T 15000.3 guides about CRM. Conclusion: The national CRM of stachyose was developed for the first time

and this CRM was intended for use in the content determination

method validation as well as testing and quality control of stachyose.