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How to read a Certificate of Analysis

September 10, 2026 · 5 min read

A Certificate of Analysis is the document that connects a physical vial to the laboratory data generated for that specific lot. It is the single most useful piece of paperwork a research supplier can provide, and it is worth knowing how to read one properly.

Batch and identity

Every COA should open with a batch or lot number that matches the printed label on the vial in front of you. If the numbers do not match, the document describes different material and cannot be used to characterise what you received.

Identity is usually confirmed by mass spectrometry, which compares the measured molecular weight of the material against the theoretical weight of the sequence.

Purity by HPLC

High-performance liquid chromatography separates the sample into its components and reports each as a percentage of total peak area. A result of 99% means the target compound accounts for 99% of what the detector saw under those conditions.

The chromatogram itself matters as much as the headline number. A clean single peak with a stable baseline is a stronger signal than a percentage quoted without the trace behind it.

Analysis date and testing laboratory

Check who ran the analysis and when. Third-party testing means the laboratory is independent of the supplier, which removes the obvious conflict of interest in self-reported results.

Every Bio Tides Labs lot is released with a batch-matched COA, and the documents are available from our Certificates of Analysis library. All products are supplied for laboratory research use only.

For research use only. Not for human consumption.

This product is supplied strictly for laboratory research by qualified professionals. It is not a drug, food, or cosmetic, and may not be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

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