Certificate of Analysis
How to read a peptide Certificate of Analysis.
A real COA is more than a purity number. It's a traceable record tying a specific batch to specific instruments, specific methods, and specific people who reviewed the data. Here's what every section means and how to confirm it's authentic.
Anatomy
The seven sections of a credible peptide COA.
1. Identification block
Product name, sequence (where applicable), lot/batch ID, catalog number, net content, manufacture and analysis dates. The batch ID is the anchor for public verification.
2. Identity (LC-MS)
Observed mass vs. theoretical monoisotopic mass, ionization mode, mass accuracy. Confirms the material is what the label claims.
3. Purity (HPLC)
Area-percent purity at the reporting wavelength (typically 214 nm), the integrated chromatogram, and a related-impurities table down to the reporting threshold.
4. Water content (Karl Fischer)
Coulometric titration result per USP <921>. Critical for lyophilized peptide stability and for assay-corrected mass calculations.
5. Bacterial endotoxin (LAL)
Endotoxin units per mL or per mg, kinetic chromogenic LAL per USP <85>. Required for any release context where endotoxin matters.
6. Residual solvents
Headspace GC-MS per USP <467> screening for ICH Q3C Class 1, 2, and 3 solvents. Reported with detection limits.
7. Authorization & verification
Names and signatures of the analyst, QC reviewer, and QA director. Public verification URL plus the unique batch identifier — anyone can authenticate the document.
FAQ
Common questions about peptide COAs.
- What is a COA for peptides?
- A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is the formal report a laboratory issues for a specific batch of material. For a peptide it typically lists identity (LC-MS), purity (HPLC area-percent), water content (Karl Fischer), bacterial endotoxin (LAL), residual solvents, and the unique batch identifier — along with the analyst, QC reviewer, and method references used.
- How do I verify a peptide COA is real?
- Every SteriGenix COA carries a unique batch identifier. Paste it into the Verify portal at /verify and the original report record is returned. If the batch ID doesn't resolve to a record, the certificate wasn't issued by SteriGenix.
- What should a legitimate peptide COA include?
- At minimum: lot/batch identifier, manufacture and analysis dates, every method used with its USP/EP/ICH reference, quantitative results with specifications, raw or summary chromatogram and mass spectrum, signatures of the analyst and QC reviewer, and a public verification path.
- Why do supplier COAs get faked?
- A supplier COA is a PDF — and PDFs are trivial to edit. Without a public verification portal anchored to the testing lab's own records, there's no way for a downstream buyer to tell a real document from one that was modified or generated wholesale. Independent third-party COAs solve this by anchoring authenticity to a record only the lab controls.
Verify a SteriGenix Certificate.
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