Reading a Certificate of Analysis: A Researcher's Guide
Key takeaways
- A CoA is the third-party lab report that turns a labeled vial into a verified one.
- Expect compound name, lot number, methods (HPLC + mass spec), purity percentage, and identity confirmation.
- The lot number ties a physical vial back to a specific batch of testing.
What a CoA is
A Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is the third-party lab report that accompanies a characterized reference standard. It is the difference between a labeled vial and a verified one.
What it contains
Expect to see the compound name, lot number, the analytical methods used (typically HPLC and mass spectrometry), the measured purity percentage, and the identity confirmation. The lot number is what ties a physical vial back to a specific batch of testing.
How unrl handles it
Every batch is independently tested, and the CoA is published in the COA library and tagged to its lot number so a researcher can match the vial in hand to its report.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most important field on a CoA?
The lot number, because it links the report to the specific batch you hold, alongside the purity percentage and identity confirmation.
Where are unrl's CoAs?
They're published in the COA library, organized by product and lot.
Related research compounds
References & further reading
For research and educational purposes only. The compounds discussed are research reference standards, not dietary supplements, drugs, or articles for human or veterinary use. Nothing here is medical advice, and no statement has been evaluated by the FDA.
