How to Read a Certificate of Analysis (COA)

What is a COA?

A Certificate of Analysis is a document that reports the results of quality control testing performed on a specific batch of peptide. It should confirm both the identity (is it the right peptide?) and purity (how clean is it?) of the product.

Essential COA Components

1. Product Identification

The COA should clearly identify:

• Product name: The peptide name (e.g., BPC-157, Ipamorelin)
• Batch/Lot number: Unique identifier matching your product label
• Quantity: Amount tested
• Manufacturing date: When the batch was produced
• Testing date: When analysis was performed

2. HPLC Purity Results

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) measures purity percentage.

What to Look For:

• Purity percentage: Should be ≥98% for research-grade peptides
• Main peak retention time: When the peptide elutes from the column
• Chromatogram image: Visual graph showing peaks

Reading the Chromatogram:

• Main peak: Should be tall and sharp, representing your peptide
• Small peaks: Represent impurities - should be minimal
• Baseline: Should be relatively flat and stable

Purity Guidelines:

3. Mass Spectrometry Results

Mass spectrometry (MS) confirms the peptide's identity by measuring its molecular weight.

What to Look For:

• Observed mass: The molecular weight detected
• Theoretical mass: The expected molecular weight for the peptide
• Mass accuracy: How closely they match (should be within 0.1%)

Example:

For BPC-157 (molecular weight ~1419.5 Da):

• Theoretical: 1419.53 Da
• Observed: 1419.51 Da
• This is an acceptable match ✓

4. Physical Appearance

COAs often describe the physical characteristics:

• Appearance: Usually "white to off-white lyophilized powder"
• Solubility: Confirms the peptide dissolves properly

5. Additional Tests (Optional but Valuable)

Some COAs include extra quality indicators:

• Amino acid analysis: Confirms correct amino acid composition
• Endotoxin testing: Checks for bacterial contamination
• Sterility testing: Confirms no microbial growth
• Moisture content: Should be low for stability

Red Flags in COAs

🚩 Generic or Template COAs

• No specific batch number
• Same document used for all products
• Missing testing dates

🚩 Missing Critical Data

• No HPLC chromatogram image
• No mass spec data
• Purity listed without methodology

🚩 Suspicious Results

• 100% purity (unrealistic - even pharmaceutical grade has trace impurities)
• Rounded numbers (99.9% on every batch)
• Mass doesn't match peptide specifications

🚩 Professional Issues

• No laboratory name or contact info
• Poor quality scans or images
• Spelling errors or unprofessional formatting
• No authorized signature

Verifying COA Authenticity

Steps to Verify:

1. Check batch number match: COA batch must match product label
2. Contact the laboratory: If third-party tested, verify with the lab
3. Compare to known standards: Research expected molecular weights
4. Look for consistency: Multiple orders should show natural batch variation
5. Consider independent testing: Send samples to your own lab for verification

Sample COA Analysis Checklist

What If You Can't Get a COA?

If a vendor won't provide a COA:

1. Ask specifically: Request batch-specific COA by email
2. Check their website: Some vendors post COAs online
3. Consider it a red flag: Reputable vendors provide documentation
4. Find another source: Your research quality depends on peptide quality