HOW DO YOU TELL IF A CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS IS LEGIT:

A legitimate Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is more than a PDF with numbers on it. Many fake or recycled CoAs circulate—especially in peptides, research chemicals, and supplements.

Here’s how to tell the difference:

1. Lab verification (non-negotiable):

A real CoA comes from an independent, accredited analytical lab, not the seller.

What to check:

Full lab name, address, and contact info
Accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025 is the gold standard)
The lab should be searchable online
You should be able to contact the lab and confirm the report

🚩 Red flag: “In-house testing” or a lab name that doesn’t exist outside the vendor’s website.

2. Unique identifiers must match

Every legitimate CoA is tied to a specific batch, not a product in general.

Must include:

Batch/Lot number
Sample ID
Date tested
Report number

These should match:

The vial label
The invoice
Any QR code or verification link

🚩 Red flag: Same CoA reused across different batches or dates.

3. Correct testing methods:

The tests must match what’s being claimed.

For peptides, look for:

HPLC → purity (%)
MS (Mass Spectrometry) → molecular weight confirmation
Sometimes NMR for structure (advanced, not always required)

🚩 Red flag:

Purity claims without HPLC
“99% purity” with no method listed
GC used for peptides (wrong tool)

4. Results should make scientific sense.

Legit data isn’t perfect-looking.

What’s normal:

Purity like 98.2%, 99.1%, etc.
Small impurities listed
Clear chromatograms or spectra references

🚩 Red flag:

Always “99.99%”
No impurities reported
Results rounded to whole numbers only

5. Signatures and authorization:

A real CoA is reviewed and approved.

Look for:

Analyst or QA reviewer name
Signature (digital or handwritten)
Approval date

🚩 Red flag: No human accountability.

6. QR codes & verification portals (when done right).

Some labs provide direct verification links.

Good: QR code links to the lab’s website, showing the same report

Bad: QR code links to the vendor’s site only

7. Formatting consistency:

Real labs use standardized formats.

🚩 Red flags:

Typos, inconsistent fonts
Logos stretched or pixelated
Editable Word/Canva-style layouts
Missing units (mg, %, Da)

8. Chain of custody matters:

A credible vendor can explain:

Where the sample was pulled from
Who submitted it
Whether it was random batch testing or vendor-selected

🚩 Red flag: Vendor refuses to explain sampling.

9. The biggest red flag of all: “Trust us.”

If a seller becomes defensive when you ask for:

Lab name
Verification
Batch-specific CoA....…walk away.

Bottom line:

A legitimate CoA is:

Batch-specific
Independently tested
Scientifically consistent
Verifiable outside the vendor

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