QualityApril 15, 2026·5 min read
How to Read a Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Every batch of research peptide should ship with a COA. Here's how to read one — and the red flags that should make you walk away from a supplier.
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a one-page document that summarizes a batch's identity and purity. It is the single most important piece of paper attached to any research-grade peptide. Knowing how to read one is the difference between confident research and unreliable data.
What a Good COA Contains
- Peptide name and full amino-acid sequence
- Molecular formula and theoretical molecular weight
- Batch / lot number and date of synthesis
- HPLC purity percentage (with chromatogram, ideally)
- Mass-spectrometry result confirming molecular weight
- Name of the third-party laboratory and signature
- Storage and handling recommendations
Red Flags
- No batch number or lot identifier
- Generic 'pass / fail' instead of an actual purity %
- No third-party lab name (in-house only)
- No chromatogram or mass spectrum images attached
- Date of analysis missing or far older than expected
- Identical-looking COA reused across multiple batches (a giveaway)
Sample Viora COAs
Every Viora batch is independently tested by accredited third-party laboratories. Recently published COAs include Tesamorelin (lot VHC-2649801), MOTS-c (lot VHC-7934158), GHK-Cu (lot VHC-6183274), and VH3-R (lot VHC-1058642) — all available as PDFs on the Lab Testing page.
For research use only. All compounds referenced in this article are intended strictly for laboratory research and experimentation. Not for human or animal consumption, diagnostic, or therapeutic use.