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Certificate of Analysis Guide

How to Read and Interpret COA Documents

Innovative Research Labs • Version 1.3 • January 2026

What is a Certificate of Analysis?

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a quality assurance document that provides detailed information about the testing and verification performed on a specific batch of peptide. Every product from Innovative Research Labs ships with a batch-specific COA that verifies purity, identity, and quality.

Our Guarantee: Every COA is generated from actual third-party laboratory testing of that specific batch. We never use generic or templated COA documents.

Sample COA Document

Innovative Research Labs
CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS

Product Name:

BPC-157 (5mg)

Batch Number:

BPC-2026-0128-A

Molecular Formula:

C₆₂H₉₈N₁₆O₂₂

Molecular Weight:

1419.53 g/mol

TestMethodSpecificationResultStatus
PurityHPLC≥98%99.2%PASS
IdentityMS1419.53 ± 11419.51PASS
AppearanceVisualWhite powderWhite powderPASS
SolubilityVisualClear solutionClearPASS
Peptide ContentN Analysis≥80%85.3%PASS

Understanding Each Section

1Product Identification

This section confirms the identity of the product including:

  • Product Name: The common name of the peptide
  • Batch Number: Unique identifier for traceability
  • Molecular Formula: Chemical composition
  • Molecular Weight: Expected mass for identity verification

2Purity (HPLC)

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is the gold standard for peptide purity analysis. This test separates the peptide from any impurities and measures the relative percentage.

≥99%

Excellent

95-98%

Good

<95%

Below Standard

3Identity (Mass Spectrometry)

Mass Spectrometry (MS) confirms the molecular weight of the peptide matches the expected value. The result should be within ±1 Da of the theoretical molecular weight. This confirms you have the correct peptide sequence.

4Peptide Content

Peptide content (also called net peptide content) indicates the actual percentage of peptide in the vial versus counter-ions, water, and other non-peptide mass. Typical values range from 75-90%. This is normal and expected—a 5mg vial at 80% peptide content contains 4mg of active peptide.

5Additional Tests

Depending on the product, additional tests may include:

  • Endotoxin (LAL): Bacterial contamination test
  • Sterility: Confirms absence of microbial growth
  • Heavy Metals: Tests for metal contamination
  • Residual Solvents: Confirms safe solvent levels

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is purity different from peptide content?

Purity measures how much of the peptide material is the correct sequence versus related impurities. Peptide content measures how much of the total vial weight is peptide versus water and salts. Both are important quality metrics.

How do I verify my COA is authentic?

Each COA contains a unique batch number. Contact us at support@innovativeresearchlabs.com with your batch number and we can verify the testing results from our records.

What if my COA shows a failing result?

Products that fail any specification are not shipped. If you ever receive a product and believe the COA results don't match the actual product, contact us immediately for a replacement or investigation.

Questions About Your COA?

Our quality assurance team is available to help explain any aspect of your Certificate of Analysis.

Email: qa@innovativeresearchlabs.com
Phone: (555) 123-4567 ext. 2

Innovative Research Labs

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© 2026 Innovative Research Labs. All rights reserved. Document ID: COA-GUIDE-2026-01