The purpose of a batch number

A batch or lot number identifies a specific production run. It is the mechanism that connects a physical vial to the analytical documentation generated for that run.

Traceability allows a laboratory to reconcile the material in hand with the records describing it, which supports reproducibility and good record-keeping.

Traceability in practice

When receiving material, record the batch number alongside your experimental records. If documentation is available for that batch, retain a copy with your records.