A Certificate of Analysis is the document that proves a batch of chemical meets its specification. It is your evidence for audits, the first thing to check when a process misbehaves, and the best way to spot a problem before material reaches your line.
What a COA contains
| Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Product and grade | Exactly what was supplied, for example citric acid monohydrate, food grade. |
| Batch or lot number | Links the certificate to the labels on your drums or bags. |
| Test parameters | Purity, water content, colour, pH or other properties measured. |
| Specification limits | The range each result must fall within. |
| Results | The actual measured values for this batch. |
| Dates and approval | Manufacture date, expiry or retest date and who approved the release. |
Three checks before you accept a delivery
- Match the batch number on the certificate with the containers you received.
- Compare results to your own requirements, not just the supplier's limits. Your process may need a tighter range.
- Check the dates so that material will be used before its retest date.
When the numbers look unusual
A result close to the edge of the specification is still a pass, but it is worth knowing about. If you see one, or if a batch behaves differently from the last, send us the batch number. Our laboratory keeps retained samples of every batch and can retest them.
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Our chemists can advise on your specific process.
