Abstract: OBJECTIVE To establish Cobra specific identification method, improve the local standard of Cobra medicinal materials, explore the possibility of this standard bring into the company, provincial or national standard by studying the traits, identification, inspection and other quality standard-related items of Cobra. METHODS A total of 23 samples belonging to 8 species 6 genera 3 families were collected, including Naja naja, Agkistrodon acutus, Zaocys dhumnades, Bungarus multicinctus, etc. The appearance characteristics and microscopic structure of Cobras were studied. To design the Cobra-specific primers, the mitochondrial COI gene sequences of snakes collected from GenBank database were compared. The collected snakes were for DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction amplification and detection by electrophoresis. The specific identification method of Cobra was established, and its specificity and applicability were investigated and verified. The quality standard of Cobra was improved by measured the inspection items such as moisture, ash and leaching. RESULTS The key points for identifying the appearance of Cobra were “spectacle-like white markings on the back of the neck” “one dark-brown horizontal spot on the front of the abdomen, a pair of black spots in front of the horizontal spot”, etc. Microscopic features included horny scales, epidermis, striated muscle, bony lacuna and bony tubules, etc. Cobra-specific primers YJS203-F/YJS303-R could accurately identify Cobra and other snakes. The average values of moisture, ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble extract and alcohol-soluble extract of 16 batches of Cobra samples were 5.71%, 21.10%, 0.16%, 20.32% and 13.16%, respectively. CONCLUSION The COI gene sequence can specifically identify Cobra. The method is fast and efficient with accurate results. On the basis of the original local standards, the quality standard of Cobra medicinal materials is improved to provide a scientific basis for the formulation and improvement of the quality evaluation system of cobra medicinal materials.