Batch Traceability and Quality Control
What a batch or lot number is, how DexaLabs publishes a Certificate of Analysis for every one, and what to do if you can't find one for your vial.
Updated September 24, 2026
What a batch (or lot) number is
A batch, or lot, is a single production run of a reagent — everything made together, under the same conditions, at the same time. The batch number printed on your vial's label ties that specific vial back to the paperwork DexaLabs holds for that run, including its Certificate of Analysis. Two vials of the same product from different batches can have slightly different purity figures, even though the product name and specification are identical — that's normal, and it's exactly why batch-level testing exists instead of one certificate covering an entire product line forever.
One certificate per batch, per test type
DexaLabs generates a separate Certificate of Analysis for each batch, for each type of test run on it (purity by HPLC, identity by mass spectrometry, and any additional testing specific to that product). A batch isn't considered released until its certificates are in hand.
Why batch traceability matters
Research reagents are chemical inputs, not finished consumer goods — knowing exactly which batch produced a given data point is part of doing reproducible laboratory work. If two research groups compare notes and each was working from a different, unidentified batch of the same product, any difference in their observations is impossible to sort out. A batch number and its certificate turn "the same product" into "the same physical material," which is a meaningfully different claim.
Where certificates are published
Every current Certificate of Analysis is published in two places: the batch's own product page, under the Certificate of Analysis section, and the DexaLabs quality page (/quality), which explains what gets tested and how. Both are kept current as new batches replace old ones in the catalog.
Comparing batches across orders
If you order the same product again later, check whether the batch number on the new vial matches your previous order. A new batch number is expected — DexaLabs sources new production runs regularly — and simply means you should pull the certificate for that new batch rather than reusing the one from your last order.
Record retention
DexaLabs keeps testing records for every batch it has sold, not just the ones currently in stock, so a certificate for a discontinued or older batch can still be produced on request even after that batch is no longer listed on the site.
If a certificate is missing for your lot
If you can't find a Certificate of Analysis for the batch number on your vial — on the product page, on /quality, or anywhere else — email contact@dexalabs.ca with the batch number and the product name. A missing certificate is something we consider urgent to fix, not something to explain away.