When evaluating a Certificate of Analysis (COA), don't just look at the purity percentage. A COA is only as trustworthy as the laboratory and the information it provides. ✅ 1. Verify the Laboratory Exists A legitimate COA should include: - Full laboratory name - Physical address - Phone number - Website - Email contact Take 30 seconds and verify the lab online. Red flag 🚩: - No website - Generic Gmail address - No physical address - Lab cannot be found online ✅ 2. Confirm the Lab Performs Independent Testing The vendor and testing laboratory should be separate entities. Red flag 🚩: - Vendor "testing themselves" - No indication of third-party testing Independent testing reduces conflicts of interest. ✅ 3. Check for Accreditation Look for: - ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation - DEA registration (when applicable) - State licensing (when applicable) You can often verify ISO accreditation directly through the accrediting body's website. Red flag 🚩: - Accreditation logos present but no certificate number - Claims of accreditation that cannot be verified ✅ 4. Match the Lot Number The lot number on the product should exactly match the lot number on the COA. Check: - Product name - Lot number - Batch number - Sample ID Red flag 🚩: - Same COA used for multiple lots - Lot numbers don't match ✅ 5. Review the Test Date A legitimate COA should show: - Date received - Date analyzed - Date reported Red flag 🚩: - Very old testing - Future dates - Missing dates ✅ 6. Verify Testing Methodology For peptides, you should typically see methods such as: - HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) - UPLC - LC-MS/MS - Mass Spectrometry A purity result without methodology means very little. Red flag 🚩: - No test method listed - No chromatogram available when requested ✅ 7. Look at the Actual Results For peptides, look for: - Purity % - Net peptide content (mg) - Identity confirmation - Moisture content (if reported)