Guide
Lab procurement guide
A structured reference for qualified laboratories evaluating research-material suppliers. Covers supplier qualification criteria, per-lot documentation requirements, and how analytical verification works on this platform.
Supplier evaluation
How qualified labs evaluate a research-material supplier
The following criteria distinguish suppliers whose documentation supports rigorous laboratory record-keeping from those whose records cannot be independently verified.
Independent certificate of analysis
A reputable supplier provides a certificate of analysis issued by a laboratory operating independently of the manufacturer. The issuing laboratory's name, contact details, and accreditation reference must appear on the document. A COA produced by the manufacturer's own quality department is a supplier-provided document; it carries less evidentiary weight than one from an independent third party.
ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. When a supplier's COA references an accredited laboratory, ask for the accreditation scope and confirm the relevant methods (e.g. HPLC purity, LC-MS identity) fall within that scope. Accreditation certificates are publicly verifiable through the relevant national accreditation body.
Batch traceability and lot numbering
Each vial, carton, and shipping container must carry a lot number that traces back to a unique manufacturing batch. The lot number appearing on the vial label must match the lot number on the COA and the packing slip exactly. Any mismatch means the analytical document cannot be reliably tied to the material received.
SDS availability
A current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) must be available for every research material before it is received, stored, or handled in a laboratory. Confirm the SDS is current (revision date present), covers the specific material form received (e.g. lyophilized powder), and includes sections for hazard identification, first-aid measures, handling and storage, and disposal.
Lot verification and record retention
Before a received lot is admitted to inventory, compare the lot number, material description, and quantity against the purchase order and packing slip. Retain the original COA, SDS, packing documentation, and receiving inspection records for the duration required by your institutional retention policy. These records support any future audit or regulatory inquiry.
Per-lot documentation
What documentation to require for each lot
A complete analytical package for a received lot consists of the following fields. Each field is necessary; a missing field is a gap in the evidentiary record.
| Field | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Issuing laboratory name and contact | Independent of the supplier; accreditation reference included. |
| Batch / lot number | Must match the vial label and packing slip exactly. |
| Sample identification | Internal sample ID assigned by the testing laboratory. |
| Test date | The date analytical testing was performed, not the report issue date. |
| Identity confirmation (LC-MS) | Observed molecular weight versus expected value, within stated tolerance. |
| Purity (HPLC/UPLC) | Main-peak area percentage; method wavelength and column type stated. |
| Chromatogram image | A re-typed figure is not a result. The chromatogram must accompany the number. |
| Water content (Karl Fischer) | Required for lyophilized materials; affects net content and material integrity over the retest interval. |
| Analyst / reviewer name | Identifiable signatory; not an anonymous stamp. |
| Verification code or QR | Enables independent retrieval of the original analytical record by lot number. |
For lyophilized research materials, also request: residual solvents, elemental impurity screening, and endotoxin data when the intended laboratory workflow requires it.
Platform verification
How verification works on this platform
Every released lot is tied to a structured analytical record that can be retrieved independently — not a PDF attachment that could be substituted or altered.
Per-lot QR code
Each vial ships with a QR that resolves to the public verification record for that exact lot, including the structured COA fields and chromatogram.
Public verification record
The verification endpoint returns structured JSON — lot number, issuing laboratory, methods, results, and outcome — not a raw PDF. Records are append-only.
Provenance labeling
Every certificate is labeled as either independent third-party or supplier-provided so procurement staff can assess evidentiary weight at a glance.
Receiving inspection
A structured receiving workflow
The following steps should be completed before any received research material is admitted to laboratory inventory.
- 01
Verify the shipment against the purchase order
Confirm that the material description, catalog number, quantity, and lot number on the packing slip match the purchase order exactly.
- 02
Inspect vial labels
Each vial label must display the product name, catalog number, lot number, net quantity, storage conditions, and the statements 'Research Use Only' and 'Not for human or veterinary use'.
- 03
Cross-reference the COA lot number
The lot number on the certificate of analysis must match the lot number on the vial label and packing slip. If they differ, quarantine the material and contact the supplier before use.
- 04
Confirm identity and purity data
Review the LC-MS identity result (observed vs expected mass within tolerance) and the HPLC/UPLC main-peak area against the stated specification.
- 05
Verify the COA using the platform
Scan the QR code on the vial or enter the lot number at /verify to retrieve the structured verification record and confirm the analytical data matches the paper COA.
- 06
File SDS and COA before use
Retain the SDS and COA in your laboratory records before any handling begins. Both documents must be accessible to all personnel who work with the material.
Account
Create a free account to order research materials.
Accounts are free and self-serve for customers 21 or older purchasing for laboratory research use. Each order confirms the research-use attestation.
- Intended use:
- For laboratory research use only.
- Prohibited use:
- Not for human or veterinary use.