What the identity result says
A certificate of analysis does two jobs, and the first is identity. That's the result saying whether the powder in the vial is the compound on the label, usually checked by measuring the molecule's weight and comparing it with what that compound should weigh. Purity, the share of the powder that's the compound rather than leftovers from making it, comes second, because 99% pure describes whatever the lab found, and 99% of the wrong compound is still the wrong compound.
Where the identity result sits depends on the lab. Certificates usually have a results table, and the identity result is a row labeled Identity. Some formats skip the row, so the compound's name next to a measured amount is the identity result. These are the words to look for:
| What it says | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pass, conforms | The lab found the compound on the label |
| Fail, does not conform | The lab found something other than the label |
| A different compound's name | The lab identified another molecule |
| ND, no analyte detected | The lab found none of the compound |
| No identity line at all | Identity wasn't tested, or wasn't printed |
An analyte is the lab's word for the thing it's measuring, so "no analyte detected" means the sample came back without the compound in it.
Why a failing certificate can sit on a product page
A real certificate from a real lab can say the sample failed, because a lab's job is to report what's in the sample it was sent, and passing isn't part of the service. Certificates get uploaded in bulk and nobody reads the result line, or a newer batch replaced the one that was tested and the page never changed. We can't tell which from the outside, and you don't need to. Either way, the page isn't showing you that the vial in the box matches the name on the front.
What to do when it says failed, or says nothing
Skip that batch. Email the vendor and ask for a passing certificate for the batch that's on sale, with the batch number printed on it. If they send one, you've lost a day. If they can't, choose another vendor, because a shop that can't produce one passing identity result for what it sells hasn't given you anything to buy against. A certificate with no identity line gets the same treatment, since it hasn't shown that identity was tested.
A passing result is the fourth check, after three you can do in about thirty seconds: the name of the shop you're buying from, the batch number on your vial, and confirmation from the lab itself. Our guide to how to tell whether a certificate of analysis is real walks through all of it.
Look where the shop doesn't
A shop chooses which certificates to post, so it helps to check somewhere it doesn't control. Labs can keep reports on their own site, often as a public list of tests or a lookup by report number, so check the lab's site for the one your shop posted. If a lab has no list, email it the report number and batch and ask whether it issued that report and what the result was.
If you'd rather test a vial yourself, how to get your peptides tested covers the order and the cost. The vendor directory shows which shops post certificates you can check, and the price app compares the real price per milligram once you've picked one.
It's sold for research, and a certificate describes only the sample that was tested, not every vial after it.
Questions people ask
Can a COA be fake?
Yes, a certificate can be edited, or can belong to another shop's batch. That's why the checks include the vendor's name, the batch number and the lab's own copy of the report.
What does a peptide COA look like?
A one or two page lab report with the lab's name, a sample name, a batch number, a date and a results box. The result lines are the part to read.
What does ND mean on a certificate of analysis?
ND means not detected, so the lab found none of the compound it was looking for. On a peptide certificate that's a failed result, and the same goes for the words no analyte detected.
How do I verify a peptide COA?
Use the lab's own lookup, the QR code, or the report number printed on the certificate. Our guide to telling whether a certificate is real walks through each step.
What should I do if a peptide COA says failed?
Skip that batch and ask the vendor for a passing certificate for the batch on sale. If they can't send one, choose another vendor.
