How to Read a Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A Certificate of Analysis, commonly called a COA, summarizes the laboratory results associated with a specific product lot or batch. Understanding each section helps you verify identity, review reported purity, and recognize what the document does—and does not—confirm.
What to Look for on a COA
• Product name or identifier — Confirm that the COA clearly identifies the material being tested.
• Lot or batch number — Match this number to the product label. Results apply only to the specific batch tested.
• Laboratory information — Look for the laboratory’s name, contact information, and applicable credentials or accreditation.
• Testing date — Confirm when the sample was analyzed and whether the report is current for that batch.
• Identity testing — Review whether the laboratory confirmed that the sample matches the stated compound.
• Purity result — Check the reported purity percentage and the analytical method used to calculate it.
• Authorized report — Look for a report number, verification link, QR code, or authorized laboratory signature.
What a COA Does Not Confirm
A COA reports only the tests performed on the submitted sample. A purity result alone does not automatically confirm sterility, safety, effectiveness, stability, or suitability for human or veterinary use. It may also exclude contaminants or characteristics that were not specifically included in the laboratory’s testing scope.