Research Use Only - Not for Human Consumption

COA Verification

A Certificate of Analysis is only as useful as the things you actually check on it. This page shows what to look at, what to compare, and what to question before treating any COA as proof.

COA Access

What A COA Is

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a lab document describing the testing performed on a specific batch of a research compound. It is a documentation record, not a medical approval. A good COA helps researchers review identity and purity. A weak or generic COA tells you nothing useful.

Box QR Verification

What Happens When You Scan A Carteum Box

Each launch-ready Carteum box can carry a batch QR code. The QR code opens a Carteum batch verification page, not a random file or supplier page.

  • The page shows the product name, batch code, lab name, and COA image configured for that batch.
  • The batch on the page should match the batch printed on the box or vial label.
  • If the batch page says no match found, contact support with a photo of the label before relying on the product record.
  • The COA page is a documentation record for research supply review. It is not medical approval or human-use guidance.
Open Batch Verification

COA Access

Quick Reality Check (30 Seconds)

Before trusting a COA from any research supplier, including Carteum, scan for these five basics.

1. Specific batch or lot number

A real COA names the exact batch it tested. If the document is generic with no batch reference, it cannot be tied to your vial.

2. Test date

The date should be recent and tied to the batch you are receiving. Old or undated COAs are a red flag.

3. Named lab and method

You should see the testing lab's name and the method used (for example HPLC for purity, mass spec for identity). "Tested in-house" without details is weak evidence.

4. Result that matches the claim

The result on the page (e.g. 98.5% purity) should be the same result the supplier advertises elsewhere. Mismatches indicate either an old COA or a marketing claim with no document behind it.

5. PDF that looks like a lab report, not a flyer

Real reports include lab letterhead, method details, instrument references, and a signature or stamp. Slick branded PDFs with only purity numbers are usually a marketing rewrite.

6. Same COA, every product? Suspicious.

If every product on a supplier's site shows the same purity number, or the same COA layout with only the name swapped, treat that as a serious warning sign.

Batch Matching

Does The COA Match The Batch?

This is the single most important check. A COA is only evidence for the batch it tested. A COA from another batch tells you nothing about the vial in your hand.

When a COA arrives with a product, look for:

  • A batch number or lot identifier on the COA.
  • The same batch number printed or attached to your vial, label, or packing slip.
  • A date on the COA that is plausible for that batch (not years old).

If the batch numbers do not match, or one is missing, the COA cannot verify your specific vial. Ask the supplier directly before continuing.

Lab Identity

Is The Lab Real And Independent?

A COA from a supplier's own internal lab is weaker evidence than a COA from a third-party lab. Either can be honest, but only third-party testing removes the "are they grading their own homework" problem.

Useful checks:

  • Look up the lab name online. Real labs have websites, addresses, and accreditation listings.
  • Check whether the lab is the supplier itself, a related company, or a separate organization.
  • Read the method section. A real lab document references instruments, columns, or standards. A copy-paste document does not.

A COA from a supplier that will not name the lab is essentially an unsigned document.

How Carteum Documents

How Carteum Handles COAs

Carteum's position is to be specific about what is documented and honest about what is not.

  • COAs are linked from product pages where available, tied to the batch in stock.
  • Products without configured COAs are listed but not promoted for launch.
  • Where third-party testing is referenced, the testing party is named.
  • Carteum will not claim "lab tested" without a viewable document.
  • Thailand domestic fulfillment means batch documentation can be reviewed before dispatch from Bangkok rather than relying on overseas paperwork.

If a COA is missing or pending for a product you are interested in, contact us before ordering. Pre-inventory products are clearly labeled as not stocked yet.

Next Step

Go Deeper

If you want a field-by-field guide to reading a COA, including the difference between HPLC and mass spec in plain English, read the deeper guide.

How To Read A COA

Field-by-field guide. Plain English explanations of HPLC, mass spec, identity, purity, and what a COA does not prove.

Research Supply Buyer Checklist

Green flags and red flags for evaluating any research supply page, with or without a COA.

Product Verification

Look up the COA status for a specific Carteum product.
For Research Use Only - All products are sold strictly for laboratory and research purposes only. Not intended for human or veterinary use, consumption, or therapeutic application. Not approved by Health Canada, the US FDA, the Thai FDA, or any regulatory body.