How to read a Certificate of Analysis
A practical guide to reading a humic substance Certificate of Analysis, including batch identity, analytical values, methods, dates and common technical fields.
What a batch COA commonly includes
A COA reports what a specific batch tested at. Read it beside the product specification, not as a replacement for it.
- 01Product name and grade
- 02Batch or lot number
- 03Humic and fulvic acid content
- 04Moisture content
- 05pH value
- 06Solubility
- 07Particle size or mesh
- 08Heavy-metal screening where reported
- 09Test methods and test date
Specification
What a product is expected to meet.
COA
What a specific batch actually tested at.
Method and date
The context needed to interpret a reported value.
Values are only meaningful alongside the method used to obtain them. When possible, compare batches using the same definitions, units and methods, and ask the supplier to clarify any field you cannot interpret.