Lab and analysis
Batch number (lot number)
Definition
A code that identifies a quantity of product made in one production run, used for traceability.
The batch number links each package to its production records and certificate of analysis. It should appear on the label, the COA, the packing list and often the invoice.
If a shipment contains several batches, ask for a COA for each one. Mixed or missing batch numbers make complaints and recalls very difficult.
Related terms
- COA (certificate of analysis)A batch specific quality document listing the tests performed, the specification limits and the actual results.
- SpecificationThe list of tests, methods and acceptance limits a product must meet, agreed between supplier and buyer or set by a standard.
- AssayA quantitative test for the content of the main substance, and the result of that test on a certificate of analysis.
- PurityHow much of a material is the stated substance, usually given as a percentage and measured by a defined method.
- Retest date and expiry dateThe date by which a material should be re tested before use (retest) or after which it should not be used (expiry).