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A Certificate of Analysis (COA) contains valuable information about a product, ingredient, environmental sample, or food testing result.
However, many organizations receive laboratory reports and immediately ask: What does this result actually mean?
A Certificate of Analysis should do more than provide numbers. It should help support decisions regarding:
Understanding how to read a COA helps manufacturers, processors, quality assurance teams, and purchasing departments use laboratory data effectively.
PBR Laboratories helps clients understand results and make informed decisions—not simply receive data.
A Certificate of Analysis is a laboratory report that documents the results obtained from testing a submitted sample.
Depending on the testing performed, a COA may include:
The COA becomes part of the quality documentation used to support product and process decisions.
The first section typically identifies:
Sample Name | Product Description | Sample Identification Number | Client Reference Information | Date Received | Date Reported
Before reviewing results, confirm the correct sample was tested.
This section identifies what was tested. Examples may include:
Aerobic Plate Count (APC) | Yeast & Mold | Total Coliforms | Escherichia coli (E. coli) | Salmonella spp. | Listeria monocytogenes | Water Activity (aw) | Moisture Content | Nutritional Parameters
Always verify that the requested testing appears on the report.
Results may be reported in different formats depending on the test.
Commonly used for food microbiology testing. Examples: <10 CFU/g, 100 CFU/g, 1,000 CFU/g, 10,000 CFU/g. Used for APC, Yeast & Mold, Total Coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, and LAB.
Often used for liquids. Examples: Water samples, dairy products, beverages.
Used for: Moisture Content, protein, fat, ash, fibre, and other nutritional parameters.
Commonly used for pathogen testing. Examples: Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, STEC.
This is one of the most common questions. A result reported as <10 CFU/g means the organism was not detected above the method's reporting limit. It does not necessarily mean: Zero Organisms Are Present. It means the level was below the reporting threshold of the test method.
A Detected result indicates the target organism was identified in the sample. Examples: Salmonella spp. – Detected, Listeria monocytogenes – Detected, E. coli O157:H7 – Detected. The significance of the result depends on: product type, sample type, intended use, customer requirements, and food safety objectives.
A Not Detected result indicates the target organism was not identified under the conditions of the test. Examples: Salmonella spp. – Not Detected, Listeria monocytogenes – Not Detected, E. coli O157:H7 – Not Detected. Results should always be interpreted within the context of the testing performed.
Every analytical method has a detection capability. A laboratory may report: Less Than (<), Not Detected, or Below Reporting Limit. These terms indicate the result was below the method's reporting threshold. Understanding detection limits helps prevent misinterpretation.
When reviewing a COA:
Ensure the correct sample was tested.
Verify all requested tests were completed.
Identify any unexpected findings.
Evaluate results against: Internal specifications | Customer requirements | Historical data | Program objectives
Historical trends often provide more value than a single result.
Results should be interpreted within the context of the entire report.
Trend analysis often provides the most valuable insight.
Detection limits always matter.
Incorrect sample identification can lead to incorrect decisions.
Interpretation depends on product type, specifications, and objectives.
Laboratory testing generates data. A Certificate of Analysis helps transform that data into decisions.
The most effective use of a COA is not simply reviewing numbers. It is understanding:
That approach helps organizations improve food safety, product quality, and operational performance.
A laboratory report documenting analytical results for a submitted sample.
Colony Forming Units per Gram, a common reporting unit used in food microbiology testing.
The organism was not detected above the reporting limit of the test method.
The target organism was identified in the sample.
The target organism was not identified under the conditions of the test.
Trend analysis often provides more useful information than a single result.
PBR Laboratories provides food microbiology testing, food pathogen testing, nutritional analysis, shelf-life studies, food quality testing, and environmental monitoring services throughout Alberta, Western Canada, and Canada.
If you have questions about a Certificate of Analysis, microbiology results, pathogen testing results, or food quality data, contact PBR for decision-focused laboratory support.
Choose PBR – Because Precision Matters, Defining Excellence in Laboratory Services Since 1984.