THE TRANSITION RESEARCH DESK
A practical guide to reading Certificates of Analysis, understanding analytical results, and matching your material to its batch record.
GUIDE 01
How to read a Certificate of Analysis
A COA is a record of the analyses reported for an identified sample. Start with the complete original document, rather than a cropped result or a product-page headline. Keep the PDF with your laboratory’s sourcing records.
- Identify the material. Compare the product name, quantity or concentration where stated, and sample description with the item you are reviewing.
- Check the batch and report references. A matching product name alone does not connect your container to the tested sample. Record the batch identifier and laboratory report number separately.
- Read the dates. Distinguish receipt, analysis, and report-issue dates. A report date is not automatically an expiry date.
- Read the method and result together. Note units, specifications, and any qualifications. Ask for clarification when a result or method is unclear.
- Check the issuer. Use the laboratory’s official verification method or independently confirmed contact details to verify a report when needed.
Our COA Library links to the original uploaded reports. For example, the BPC-157 report KVR-2026-9CEBEB identifies batch BPC10-2607-01. That example is a historical batch record, not a statement about the batch currently shipping.
GUIDE 02
Purity, identity, and quantity answer different questions
| Question | What to review |
|---|---|
| Identity What material was tested? | The sample description and identity analysis, interpreted within the method’s limits. |
| Purity What did the method distinguish? | The reported purity result, analytical method, and any supporting chromatogram or qualifications. |
| Quantity How much was measured? | A separate quantity or concentration result, its units, and the basis of measurement. |
Chromatography separates sample components under defined conditions. Mass spectrometry provides mass information; tandem mass spectrometry can provide additional structural information. These techniques provide different evidence, so a purity percentage alone does not establish both identity and quantity. For method background, see Agilent’s guide to peptide analysis (PDF).
A COA should only be used to support the tests and findings it actually reports. Do not infer sterility, absence of every possible contaminant, clinical safety, or suitability for human or veterinary use from a purity result.
GUIDE 03
Match your product label to the correct batch
- Record the product name and batch or lot identifier exactly as printed on the label.
- Find the product in the COA Library or open its product page.
- Compare the label identifier with the batch shown in the original report.
- Save the report number, PDF, and sourcing records together according to your laboratory’s procedures.
- If the references differ or the batch is missing, contact support for clarification before relying on that report.
When contacting us, include the product name, batch identifier, and report reference if available. You may include an order number for an order-related request. Do not send card details or sensitive personal information.
BROWSE RESEARCH CATEGORIES
Research materials by category
Use these category pages to compare available research materials and open the applicable product documentation.
CONTINUE YOUR RESEARCH
Research updates and laboratory supplies
Read the TB Research Dispatch for new research documentation and site updates, or review our researcher solution available for qualified laboratory settings.
NEW DOCUMENTATION GUIDES
Research documentation reference library
Use these focused guides when evaluating research-use-only materials and their analytical records.
- How to Verify a Peptide COA and Batch Match — a step-by-step review of product identity, lot traceability, laboratory details, and complete reports.
- Peptide Identity, Purity, and Quantity Explained — why these analytical results answer different questions.
- Research Peptide Documentation Checklist for Laboratory Purchasing — a practical checklist from product selection through receipt.
ANALYTICAL & RECEIVING GUIDES
Build stronger documentation records
These new guides extend the library from report review into analytical-method interpretation and controlled receiving records.
- HPLC and Mass Spectrometry in Peptide Documentation — what each method can support, why the results are complementary, and what a reviewer should record.
- Research Material Receiving and Chain-of-Custody Checklist — a practical process for receiving, batch matching, internal transfer, discrepancies, and record retention.
Documentation has a defined scope.
These guides provide general laboratory documentation information. They are not laboratory operating procedures, medical advice, dosing instructions, or a certification of any product’s suitability for a particular application. Qualified personnel should follow applicable requirements and their institution’s procedures.
COA & Testing Notice / Research Use Notice / Research catalog
Prepared by Transition Biotech · Updated September 14, 2026 · For laboratory research only. Not for human or veterinary use.
