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Animal Trust Center · SignCheck
SignCheck: verify the authenticity of reports
Every PDF report from Generatio carries the personal electronic signature of the head of laboratory. With SignCheck you can verify in a few seconds whether a PDF in front of you is the unaltered original. The check is a free service for every report. This page explains why signed reports matter, how the check works and when it is worth doing.
Why SignCheck?
A report often decides a great deal: a purchase price, a breeding approval or a mating. All the more important that it is genuine. SignCheck allows anyone who receives a Generatio report to check this for themselves.
The signature secures the content
The electronic signature is firmly tied to the content of the PDF. If even a single character is changed after signing, the signature is no longer valid. That is exactly what SignCheck detects.
Standard since our foundation
Generatio has signed all PDF reports since the company was founded. We recognised early on that a laboratory report must be verifiable. In our view this should be standard everywhere.
How SignCheck works
The check takes a few seconds and needs no software of your own. All you need is the original PDF of the report.
Request the original PDF
Ask for the report as a PDF file, exactly as Generatio issued it. A printout, a scan or a photo of the report is not enough, because the signature is missing from it.
Upload the PDF to SignCheck
Open SignCheck in the Animal Trust Center and select the PDF file. The check starts immediately.
Read the result
SignCheck shows whether the document is unaltered, who signed it and when. The next section explains what the details mean.
What the result means
SignCheck has two outcomes. In the first case you are holding an unaltered original. In the second case this cannot be confirmed, and you should ask.
The document is unaltered
The signature is valid and the content matches the state at the time of issue. SignCheck also lists the details of the signature:
- the name of the file that was checked
- who signed it: the head of laboratory of Generatio GmbH
- date and time of the signature
- the certification authority that issued the certificate
- the period during which the signature is valid: “valid from” and “valid until”
The document could not be verified
In that case a valid Generatio signature is missing. There are several possible reasons:
- The PDF was altered after it was signed.
- The file is a scan, a photo or a newly created PDF of a printout.
- The document does not come from Generatio.
Do not rely on the document in this case. Request the original PDF or contact Generatio.
When the check is worth doing
Whenever you have not received a report directly from Generatio but from a third party.
Before buying an animal
The seller presents reports on hereditary diseases, parentage or coat colour. With the original PDF you can check in seconds whether the details are unaltered before you decide.
Breeding approval and associations
Breeding associations and breed wardens often receive reports by email. SignCheck shows whether the submitted document matches the report as issued, without having to ask the laboratory.
Stud dogs and stallions
Anyone choosing a mating partner relies on that animal's reports. Ask for the original PDFs and check them before the mating is planned.
Veterinarians and expert opinions
In veterinary practice, pre-purchase examinations and expert opinions it also matters that a laboratory report is genuine. The check is free of charge and open to everyone.
SignCheck in the Animal Trust Center
The Animal Trust Center (ATC) is where your reports and certificates are kept as original PDFs. From there you pass them on, and every recipient can verify them with SignCheck.
Pass on originals safely
In the animal file in the ATC you will find every report as a signed PDF. Always pass on this file, not a printout. That way the recipient can confirm its authenticity themselves.
Check without an order
SignCheck is a service that comes with Generatio's reports. The check is not tied to an order and costs nothing.
Frequently asked questions about SignCheck
Does a check with SignCheck cost anything?
No. SignCheck is a free service from Generatio for every report.
Which documents can I check with SignCheck?
All PDF reports issued by Generatio. Each of them is secured by the personal electronic signature of the head of laboratory, Dr. Eberhard Manz. Documents from other laboratories cannot be checked.
Can I check a printout, a scan or a photo?
No. The signature is part of the PDF file itself and is lost when the document is printed, scanned or photographed. Ask the owner for the original PDF.
Is the uploaded document stored?
No. The PDF is only checked for integrity and is not stored afterwards.
What does it mean if the document could not be verified?
Then SignCheck did not find a valid Generatio signature. The PDF was altered after signing, it is not an original PDF, or it does not come from Generatio. Request the original or contact Generatio.
My report is older and the validity period of the signature has expired. Is it still valid?
Yes. The period from “valid from” to “valid until” refers to the signature and is a requirement of the authorities. It does not affect the check. An older report remains valid and unchanged, and SignCheck still confirms that the document is unaltered.
Can I check the signature without SignCheck?
Yes. Adobe Acrobat shows the signature in the “Signatures” panel. You will find instructions in the menu under Help, on the page “Sign Check”. Another option is the online tool “Verify PDF signatures” from PDF24, an external service.