How to read a lab report (COA)
A Certificate of Analysis, or COA, is a lab report. It should help you verify identity, purity, batch number, test date, and the lab that performed the analysis.
Start with identity
The report should name the compound tested and show a batch or lot number. That batch number should match the product page or vial. If the report is generic, outdated, or missing a batch number, it is much less useful.
Identity testing answers the question: is this what the label says it is?
Then look at purity
Purity is usually shown as a percentage. Higher is generally better, but context matters. Look for the method used, the date tested, and whether the lab is independent rather than owned by the seller.
A polished PDF is not enough. The details need to line up.
Watch for document problems
Red flags include cropped lab headers, missing signatures, mismatched dates, altered fonts, unverifiable QR codes, or a COA reused across multiple products. A good report should be boring, complete, and easy to verify.