what is a COA
Verified Source-Derived Information
- ✓Document issued by an analytical chemistry laboratory certifying identity, purity, and safety specifications of a chemical batch.
- ✓Must pair High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for purity with Mass Spectrometry (MS) for chemical identity.
- ✓Authenticity requires verifiable laboratory credentials, test keys, and explicit report dates.
- Therapept ReferenceCOA Detective — Interactive COA Inspection Tool →
- Therapept ReferenceHow to Verify a Peptide COA Guide →
Educational Explanation & Context
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a formal testing document issued by an independent analytical chemistry laboratory verifying the chemical identity, purity percentage, and contaminant profile of a specific batch of peptide powder.
A rigorous, credible peptide COA must include two distinct analytical tests: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to establish chromatographic purity (typically >98%), and Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS or MALDI-TOF) to verify molecular weight and chemical identity. High-standard COAs also report net peptide content (accounting for counter-ion salts and residual moisture) and sterility/endotoxin testing.
A COA is the only objective proof of what is inside a peptide vial. Because research peptides are unregulated and prone to counterfeit reports, verifying the laboratory's direct verification portal (such as Janoshik's verification key) is critical.
Unknown / Not Available & Regulatory Boundaries
- •A COA that lacks a verifiable third-party test code, date, instrument chromatogram, and mass spectrum should be treated as untrusted.
