Certificates of Analysis
A Watson Certificate of Analysis contains the following information:
- A complete listing of the product's physical and chemical specifications that were tested.
- Units of measure, if applicable.
- The Minimum Specification.
- The Target Specification.
- The actual Assay results from the assayed production lot.
- Lot Number
- Date C of A was issued
- Manufacture date
- Expiration date
- Signature of Authorized Analytical Chemist.
* Other information may be included upon customer request. Examples include: Pounds produced, box numbers, Customer Specification Number and Customer Purchase Order Number.
Watson assays several samples for each production lot. Actual results
are checked by four Analytical Chemists prior to the Certificate of Analysis
being signed.
Some companies report "Audit" in place of actual assay data. This
means that batch records and supporting documentation were reviewed and
that the correct amount of that nutrient should therefore be in the final
blend. Reporting "Audit" as a result means no actual assay
was conducted. Certificates reporting "Audit" are generally
called Certificates of Compliance (C of C). They are not true Certificates
of Analysis. Audited results are sometimes offered in the industry
in place of true assay results to save costs. However, Audits will
not catch a homogeneity problem, when reactions between raw materials
occur, raw material potency issues or operator errors, such as a raw material
not being added to a blender or being spilled during addition.