Vetted Vial Editorial · Published / reviewed 2026-10-23
Before ordering a test, write down the question you need answered. Confirm that the proposed method, sample requirements, and report will address it. The checklist below focuses on questions a research customer can ask before choosing a laboratory.
Check accreditation and its scope
ISO/IEC 17025 addresses laboratory competence, impartiality, and consistent operation. Accreditation bodies assess laboratories against it. Source: ISO/IEC 17025. Ask for the current certificate and scope, then verify them with the named accreditation body. Match the laboratory entity and location, the method, and the relevant material or matrix.
- Who issued the certificate, and when does it expire?
- Is the specific test within the current scope?
- Will the report distinguish work inside and outside that scope?
A general statement about following a standard is different from accreditation. Vetted Vial does not award accreditation badges based only on a company’s own website. Not finding a certificate in one search is also not proof that none exists.
Ask what the method measures
Bachem describes HPLC purity using the main peak’s area relative to all detected peaks. It identifies separate techniques for water, residual solvents, and other components. Source: Bachem quality-control guide. Ask how the laboratory handles unresolved peaks, detector response, and relevant impurities instead of treating a percentage as a complete description of a sample.
- Which method supports identity, purity, and quantity?
- What units, reference materials, and method limits apply?
- Is the method validated or verified for this compound and sample type?
- What can the test not detect or distinguish?
- If microbiological or other specialized tests are needed, what separate methods and suitability checks apply?
Document sample handling
A result describes the material tested. Ask about sample amount, container, shipping conditions, receipt documentation, and storage before analysis. Get instructions directly from the laboratory rather than copying another customer’s procedure.
- How is the sample identifier linked to your submitted lot information?
- Will receipt condition and any deviations be recorded?
- Is blind or coded submission available?
- How long is retained material kept for a possible retest?
Agree on the report and supporting data
Request a sample report format before placing an order. A useful report identifies the laboratory, report and sample IDs, dates, methods, units, results, limitations, and approval or authorization. Ask whether chromatograms, spectra, and other supporting records are included or available separately.
Verify authenticity through the laboratory’s own contact details or report portal. A valid report ID supports authenticity, but does not establish that a sample represents every item a seller ships.
Set expectations for unusual results
- What is the expected turnaround, and what can delay it?
- How are unexpected or out-of-specification results investigated?
- What is the retest policy and its cost?
- Are amended reports identified and linked to earlier versions?
- Who reviews data processing and approves the final report?
Clarify independence and publication rights
Ask about ownership relationships, referral payments, and other relevant interests. Establish who can see the data, whether results may be published, and how third parties can request verification. Obtain permission before submitting someone else’s report for publication.
Our report library distinguishes source information from any independent checks performed by the platform. A directory listing does not certify a laboratory or establish a product’s suitability for human use.
Keep a written record
Save the scope agreed with the lab, its sample instructions, your identifiers, and its report. Record unresolved questions alongside the result. This makes later comparisons more useful than collecting purity percentages without their context.
Submit report information for editorial review. Share a public report link first; do not upload private documents through a public page.
Ask about method performance, not just instrument names
Request a plain explanation of how the laboratory demonstrated that its method works for your compound and sample matrix. Ask how it checks selectivity, accuracy, precision, and the relevant measurement range. If the lab cites pharmaceutical validation guidance, ask how that framework applies to the work you are buying.
FDA’s final ICH Q2(R2) guidance is a reference for analytical procedure validation in pharmaceutical contexts. Citing it does not establish that every research test has been validated or that the lab is accredited.
Send one clear request for a quote
Include the research question, compound identity, sample format, requested measurements, desired reporting units, and deadline. Ask the lab to confirm sample quantity and shipping requirements, subcontracted work, total price, supporting data access, and publication permission before you send material.
A useful reply explains both the service and its limits. Ask for clarification if “full testing” does not identify the individual tests. Accreditation is evidence for a defined scope; its absence alone does not settle whether a particular laboratory is competent.
Use our COA reading guide to review the finished report, or browse testing laboratory profiles.
For laboratory research and business education only. A report or listing does not establish suitability for human use.
Sources checked October 23, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact the editorial team.