Section 1
Why COA Verification Matters
A Certificate of Analysis is the primary evidence a supplier offers that their product contains what it claims. In a market without retail pharmacy oversight, the COA is the last line of verification — and it is routinely falsified.
Self-reported purity claims are the norm in the research peptide market — but uniformity across every single compound at exactly 99% or 100% is a mathematical red flag, not a quality signal. Real analytical testing produces specific, variable numbers per batch: 97.4% on one lot, 98.8% on another, 99.1% on a third. Identical numbers across all products indicate the COA was generated, not tested.
Verification is not a technical exercise. It is a five-minute process that tells you whether the document in front of you is real. The guide below walks through every step.
Section 2
What a Legitimate COA Contains
A genuine, independently-generated COA will include all of the following. Missing items are meaningful omissions — not optional fields.
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Independent third-party lab name and contact information
Not the supplier's in-house lab. A real COA names a laboratory that operates independently and can be verified externally — with a physical address, phone number, and accreditation. -
Sample ID / Lot number
This must match the lot number on the vial you received. A COA without a lot number — or with a lot number that doesn't match your product — is not your product's COA. -
Test date
The date the analysis was performed. A missing date, or a single date applied across a broad product range, indicates the document was templated rather than generated per batch. -
Compound identity confirmation
Identity testing must be stated explicitly — HPLC, mass spectrometry (MS), or NMR. "Tested and verified" without methodology stated is not an identity confirmation. -
Purity percentage (HPLC) with expected variation
A legitimate result shows a specific percentage per batch — and it varies across batches. Uniform "99.0%" or "100%" across all products is a fabrication signal, not a quality signal. -
Quantitative potency confirmation
Milligrams confirmed vs. milligrams labeled. This verifies that the vial contains the amount stated — not just the right compound at a claimed purity. -
Testing methodology stated explicitly
The method used (e.g., RP-HPLC, LC-MS/MS, NMR) should be identified in the report. Vague language like "analytical testing performed" is insufficient. -
Analyst signature or lab certification number
A COA is a signed analytical document. An analyst name, signature, or lab certification number ties the result to a specific person and institution accountable for the finding.
Section 3
Red Flags on Fake COAs
These are the most common indicators of fabricated or supplier-manipulated documentation. Any single item on this list warrants skepticism. Multiple items are disqualifying.
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No lot number, or lot number doesn't match the product label
If the lot number on the COA doesn't match the lot number on the vial, the COA is not for that product. -
Same purity percentage across all products — exactly 99.0% or 100%
Statistically implausible. Legitimate batch testing produces different results per compound per run. Identical values across an entire catalog indicate the numbers were typed, not tested. -
Lab name not independently verifiable
Search the lab name. Does it have a website? A physical address? An ISO or CLIA accreditation? If you cannot find an independent trace of the laboratory's existence, treat the COA as unverified. -
No date, or a single date applied to a wide product range
A real testing event has a specific date. A single date applied to dozens of products across a catalog means the template was dated, not the individual batch reports. -
PDF metadata showing creation in Word or by the supplier
Right-click any COA PDF → Properties → Details. If the "Author" or "Application" field shows Word, Google Docs, or the supplier's company name rather than LIMS software or a lab platform, the document was created by the vendor — not the lab. -
"COA available on request"
Legitimate suppliers post COAs publicly per batch. "Available on request" means the documentation can be curated, withheld, or adjusted before it reaches you. Batch-level public posting is the standard.
Section 4
How to Verify a Sequence Labs COA
Sequence Labs COAs are verifiable through two independent channels: our public COA library and Finnrick Pulse, an independently operated vendor verification platform. Follow these steps:
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Locate your lot number Find the lot number printed on the vial label. This is the identifier that ties your specific product to a specific batch COA. Every vial shipped by Sequence Labs carries a batch-specific lot number.
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Go to the Sequence Labs COA Library Navigate to sequencelabs.health/coa.html. All batch COAs are posted publicly — no account or request required.
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Locate the matching batch COA Find the COA entry that matches your compound and lot number. The COA PDF is available for direct download from the library.
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Click the Finnrick Pulse verification link Each COA entry includes a link to the corresponding report on Finnrick Pulse. This opens the COA on Finnrick's independent platform — a service not owned, operated, or controlled by Sequence Labs. Finnrick hosts and verifies COAs from multiple vendors.
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Confirm the lot number, compound, purity, and test date On the Finnrick Pulse report, verify that the lot number matches your vial, the compound name is correct, the purity result is reported, and the test date is present. These four fields confirm the COA is batch-specific and independently hosted.
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Contact Krause Analytical directly to verify the report Krause Analytical Laboratory (Austin, TX) performed the analysis. You can contact them independently — by phone or email — to confirm any specific batch report. Their contact information is listed on the COA and can be verified at their independent website. Sequence Labs does not control this verification step.
Sections 5 & 6
The Third Parties Behind Verification
Two independent organizations underwrite the verification chain for every Sequence Labs batch: the analytical laboratory that performs the testing, and the platform that hosts and verifies the results publicly.
Testing Laboratory
Krause Analytical
Austin, Texas
- Analytical laboratory specializing in peptide identity, purity, and potency testing
- Full panel available: identity, purity, quantity, endotoxins, heavy metals, residual solvents, sterility
- Also conducts court analysis work — forensic and legal credibility
- Operates independently — Sequence Labs is a client, not an owner or affiliate
- Can be contacted directly to verify any specific batch report
Verification Platform
Finnrick Pulse
- Independent peptide vendor verification platform — not affiliated with Sequence Labs
- Hosts and verifies COAs from multiple vendors publicly at finnrick.com
- Buyers can verify any Sequence Labs COA without accessing Sequence Labs' own systems
- Eliminates the possibility of supplier-manipulated documentation — the COA exists on a third-party platform the supplier does not control
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions on COA Verification
Why doesn't Sequence Labs just post the COA PDFs directly?
We do — and we also use Finnrick Pulse so the COAs are verifiable on an independent platform that Sequence Labs does not control. This eliminates the possibility of supplier-manipulated documentation. Both channels are available: download the PDF from our COA library, and confirm it on Finnrick's platform independently.
What should I do if I receive a product and the lot number doesn't match the COA?
Contact Team@SequenceLabs.Health immediately. We will investigate and replace the product. Lot number matching is a non-negotiable quality standard — a mismatch is treated as a fulfillment error requiring resolution.
How often does Sequence Labs test new batches?
Every new batch receives independent testing before it is listed for purchase. We do not list a compound until its batch-specific COA is available and has been verified on Finnrick Pulse. There is no backfill — COAs precede listing, not follow it.
Can I use this guide to evaluate other peptide suppliers?
Yes — the checklist in Section 2 and the red flags in Section 3 apply universally. Any legitimate research peptide supplier should be able to pass these checks. If a supplier's COAs fail multiple items on the red flag list, treat the documentation as unverified regardless of the supplier's marketing claims.
What does the PDF metadata check actually show?
Laboratory information management systems (LIMS) generate COA PDFs directly from analytical data. The metadata on a legitimate lab-issued COA will reflect the LIMS software, not a word processor. If you open a COA PDF's properties and see "Microsoft Word," "Google Docs," or the supplier's company name as the author or creator application, the PDF was created by the vendor — not the lab — which is a significant authenticity concern.
Verify for Yourself
See the COA library — and verify every batch independently
Every Sequence Labs batch COA is publicly posted and independently verifiable through Finnrick Pulse. No account required.