How to read a Certificate of Analysis: what each field means for researchers
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is the primary document a researcher should reference to independently verify the identity and purity of a research compound. Understanding what each field represents helps researchers evaluate whether a supplier’s documentation meets an acceptable standard of rigor.
A compliant COA should include, at minimum: the compound’s declared identity, a batch or lot code, the date the sample was received and tested, the total quantity measured, and a purity result reported against a stated specification (commonly HPLC purity above a defined threshold).
Third-party accreditation matters. A COA generated by an independent laboratory carries more evidentiary weight than an in-house certificate, since it removes the incentive for a supplier to self-report favorable results. Look for the testing laboratory’s name, accreditation status, and a means of independently verifying the result where available.
Every compound sold by GLP1 Research Lab ships with a batch-specific COA from an accredited third-party laboratory, linked directly from the relevant product page and from our COA Database.