i have looked at phosph erk many times in the past via western blot. I purchase the antibody from cell signaling. It is a really good antibody and is specific.
You could ask them to send you a positive control. The most common positive control is Jurkat + PMA Cell Lysate. I have included a link below for the santa cruz antibody and it lists at the bottom if you scroll down the positive controls for this antibody. Good luck