Things you should look out for in COA's that actually hide the real truth about what you are buying.
Over the years, we've learn't, usually the hard or expensive way, how to filter out the dodgy or fake COA's.
Here are some red flags you should avoid:
- If the client name on the top doesn't match your suppliers name. This could mean that whoever is selling you a product may have just taken some other random companies COA and claiming it as theirs.
- If the identification doesn't say what the sample is. We've had a potential supplier send us a COA with the identifaciton marked as the chemical formula to try and look more impressive. We got it assessed and it wasn't even a real product.
- Purity - ideally should be above 99%. However, standard acceptable manufacturing is generally 98%.
- Quantity - + or - 15% is acceptable. This allows for the moisture change in the vial. Manufacturers usually over fill slightly to allow for the powder to dry. If the quantity is greater than + or - 15%, this reflects sloppy filling. We had a sample tested for a 20mg vial, results showed 33mg, a 60% overfill. This is very dangerous as the user could be over dosing. Hence we don't use this supplier anymore.
- Blended peptides - the quantity of each individual peptide should be shown. Company's have been known to under fill or not even put a certain peptide in a blend, then their COA only shows the overall amounts to make them look good. We had a Glow stack independently tested and there was zero traces of the TB-500. Hence why we put them straight into the bin, and we never use this supplier anymore.
- COA's should have a code to link with the Labs website to confirm authentication. This makes sure the supplier hasn't altered the document for their own gain. We have also experienced this with a potential supplier. We checked their COA against the Labs uploaded version and there were variations.
- Inhouse testing. Some labs claim to test their own products, but this is so easy for them to adjust any figures they like for their own gain. This is why third party testing should always be done so there can't be any bias.
These are a few things to look out for, and why we get our own Aussie Labs to independently verify the products when they arrive. We are very specific, and look for as many of these points before we even consider getting our own testing done.
We hope this helps you stay more diligent, aware, and safer during your "research".
Research Use Only.
All products are supplied strictly for laboratory and research purposes. They are not intended for human or animal consumption, and no claims are made regarding therapeutic or diagnostic use. Always consult a qualified professional before any application.