How to Read a COA

A Certificate of Analysis is only useful when it is specific. The document should match the product name, batch or lot number, testing partner, test date, analytical method, and reported result shown on the product page. A generic purity statement is not the same as a batch-specific COA. Start with identity. Confirm that the report is for the same product you are reviewing. Then check the batch or lot number. If the lot number on the COA does not match the lot number on the product page, support should review the record before the item is ordered. Next, look for the testing partner, date, and method. Common analytical methods may include HPLC for purity and mass spectrometry for identity confirmation, depending on the product and lab. The site should not summarize a result more strongly than the source document supports. Finally, check the status. Available means a matching final record is attached. Pending Final COA means the record is not complete yet. Lot Documentation may be more appropriate for non-compound supplies that do not require a purity COA.