Common analytical terms
HPLC is commonly used to assess chromatographic purity or related substances. LC-MS can help confirm molecular mass and identity. Other tests may address water, residual solvents, elemental impurities, endotoxin, bioburden, or appearance depending on the material and intended use.
The method and result must be interpreted together. A single purity percentage cannot answer every identity, safety, stability, or regulatory question.
How to read a COA
Check whether the certificate identifies the exact product, lot or batch, test date, method, result, specification, and issuing company. Confirm that the document is linked to the material being offered and that the supplier can explain any limits or deviations.
A sample COA can demonstrate a documentation format, but it does not prove the current lot. For qualification work, request lot-specific documentation and clarify whether testing is performed in-house or by an external laboratory.
What public evidence cannot establish
Public analytical examples do not establish current capacity, regulatory approval, stability, sterility, or suitability for a particular application. Those conclusions require the relevant technical documents, supplier confirmation, and independent review.