How can you tell if a COA is fake?
The surest way to tell if a COA is fake is to look up its report number on the testing lab's own website and compare every field; if there is no record, or the fields differ, treat the COA as unverified.
What are the most common red flags?
No lot or batch ID; no report number or verification code; a verification link or QR code that opens a page outside the lab's own domain; the same report used for several lots; dates that don't fit the lot; and a lab you can't find independently.
Why shouldn't I just scan the QR code on a COA?
A QR code can point anywhere, including a lookalike page. Type the lab's web address yourself, find its verification page and enter the code by hand.
How can I tell if a PDF was edited?
Look for mismatched fonts or misaligned text in the lot, date or result fields, figures pasted in as images, and screenshots offered instead of the original file. The reliable test is still comparing against the lab's own record.
What is a dry lab or dry-labbed result?
A report produced without the testing actually being done, or with made-up results. An accredited lab, a record on the lab's own site and a matching lot ID make it harder to pass off.
How do labs with a task number and key work?
Some labs print a task number and a unique key on each report so anyone can open the lab's stored copy on its verification page. For example, Janoshik's help center explains this process. A report counts only if it matches the stored version.
A COA verified at the lab. Is my vial covered?
Only if the lot or batch ID on the report matches the one on your vial. A genuine report can still describe a different lot.
What should I do if a COA doesn't check out?
Don't rely on it. Ask the supplier for the lab's direct confirmation, and consider an independent retest of a sealed sample at a second lab.