How to Read a Certificate of Analysis: A Buyer's Guide
The piece of paper that tells you what's actually in your NMN. Here's how to read one — and what to look for if you want to know your supplement is what it says it is.
Why a COA matters
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document from a testing laboratory stating what's actually in a given batch of a product. For supplements, it's the difference between a label claim and a measured fact.
Most supplement buyers never see one. Most supplement brands don't volunteer them. That asymmetry is exactly the gap this post is written to close.
What's in a COA
A COA typically has four zones of information. Here's a simplified example — the layout varies by lab, but the ideas are the same.
Let's walk through it.
Zone 1: Product identity
At the top, the document identifies what's being tested. For NMN, the identity should say β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (the active form). If it just says 'NMN' with no greek letter, or worse, a different chemical name, that's a signal to ask questions.
You'll also see a lot number. Every time a manufacturer produces a new batch, a new lot number is assigned. This lets you trace the exact batch your bottle came from.
Zone 2: Purity
The purity row tells you what percentage of the powder is actually NMN. Quality NMN products should show purity at or above 99%, tested by HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) — which is the standard analytical method for this kind of assay.
Two things to check:
- The specification column (what purity is being claimed)
- The result column (what the test actually measured)
These two should either match or exceed. A result that's below the specification means the batch failed QC — and shouldn't be on the market.
Zone 3: Heavy metals and contaminants
This is arguably the most underrated part of a COA. Supplements — especially powder-based ones — can carry trace heavy metals from the raw material source: lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury. Reputable manufacturers test for these and set upper limits well below regulatory thresholds.
If a COA doesn't include heavy metals testing, it's not a full COA.
Zone 4: Microbiology and residuals
The bottom portion tests for biological contaminants (bacteria, mold, yeast) and residual solvents (chemicals left over from the manufacturing process). Both should show 'pass' or be below specified thresholds.
What a COA doesn't tell you
A COA tells you what's in the batch on the day of testing. It doesn't tell you:
- Whether the capsule you're holding came from this specific lot (the lot number on your bottle answers that)
- How long the product has been sitting in a warehouse since testing
- Anything about bioavailability or human absorption — those are different studies
How to ask for a COA
If you're buying an NMN product and the brand won't provide a COA, that's a red flag. For Risen, you can request the COA for your specific lot by emailing us at [email protected] with your lot number. We'd rather show you the paper than ask you to trust us on faith.
What we don't claim
We don't claim a COA makes a product good. A COA only tells you the product is what the label says it is — nothing more. But without that baseline, every other claim is floating on air.
That's why we start here.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Individual results vary. Nothing on this page is medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any supplement.