Start with the document identity
- Product or compound name
- Batch or lot number
- Sample received and test dates
- Laboratory name and report identifier
- Analytical method used
- Result, units, and any stated limitations
Match the report to the batch
The batch or lot identifier on the report should correspond to the identifier associated with the product. A polished report is not useful for verification if it cannot be connected to the item under review.
Best practice
Check the product name, batch number, and report date together. Avoid relying only on a screenshot, a cropped percentage, or a report with no visible batch relationship.
Separate identity, purity, and quantity
IdentitySupports whether the expected compound is present under the stated method.
PurityDescribes the proportion associated with the primary analytical signal under the reported conditions.
QuantityAddresses how much material is present and requires an appropriate quantitative method.
What a COA does not automatically prove
A certificate only supports the analyses shown on the document. It does not automatically establish sterility, endotoxin status, stability over time, exact quantity, or suitability for a particular experiment.
Questions to ask before relying on a report
- Can I match the report to the product batch?
- What method was used, and what question does that method answer?
- Is the result reported with clear units or interpretation?
- Is the report complete rather than cropped or selectively displayed?
- Is the test date relevant to the batch currently being offered?
