How to read a certificate of analysis
What each part of a Genesis COA shows, how to match it to your vial, and what a COA doesn't tell you.
A certificate of analysis (COA) is the lab report for one specific batch of a product. It records what was tested, how it was tested and what the results were. Reading one takes a couple of minutes once you know where to look.
Start with the batch number
Every Genesis vial label carries a batch (lot) number, for example GB-5556366. The COA you want is the one with exactly that number. A report for a different batch of the same compound tells you about that other batch, not yours.
To find it, type the batch number into the COA library or the search bar. Older batches stay online, so labels already out there keep working.
What each part of a Genesis COA shows
- Compound and size. The name and the labelled amount for the batch tested.
- Batch number. The link between the report and the vials it describes.
- HPLC purity. The share of the sample measured as the named compound by high-performance liquid chromatography, shown as a percentage. See Understanding HPLC purity.
- Endotoxin result. A pass or fail against the lab's limit for bacterial endotoxin.
- Test date and laboratory. When and where the testing was done, where recorded.
What a COA doesn't tell you
A COA describes a batch at the time it was tested. It isn't a statement about safety, effects or suitability for any use. HPLC purity on its own doesn't confirm identity or sterility, and an endotoxin screen measures one kind of contaminant only.
Genesis products are supplied for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or veterinary consumption or administration.
A quick checklist
- The batch number on the COA matches the number on your vial label.
- The compound and size match what you ordered.
- You've noted the purity and endotoxin result for your records.
- If anything doesn't match, email us before you use the material in your work.
Questions about a specific batch
If a batch number doesn't bring up a report, or a detail looks wrong, email info@genesisbiomapping.com with the batch number and we'll look into it.