How to Read Hemp Product Lab Reports (COAs)

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is your protection against low-quality, mislabeled, or dangerous hemp products. But lab reports can be confusing if you don't know what to look for.

This guide will teach you to read COAs like a pro.

What is a COA?

A Certificate of Analysis is a document from an independent laboratory that verifies what's actually in a hemp product. It should tell you:

• Cannabinoid content (CBD, THC, THCA, etc.)
• Whether the product is legally compliant
• If contaminants are present
• That the product matches what's on the label

Key Sections of a COA

1. Lab Information

Look for:

• Lab name and address: Should be a real, verifiable laboratory
• Accreditation: Look for ISO 17025 or state licensing
• Date of testing: Recent is better
• Batch/sample ID: Should match the product

2. Cannabinoid Profile

This section shows the amounts of each cannabinoid. Key things to check:

• Delta-9 THC: Must be under 0.3% for legal compliance
• THCA: The precursor to THC (important for THCA flower)
• CBD: Should match what's advertised
• Other cannabinoids: CBN, CBG, CBC (for full spectrum products)
• Total cannabinoids: Overall potency

Understanding the numbers:

• Percentages (%) = amount per 100g of product
• mg/g = milligrams per gram
• For flower: 20% CBD = 200mg CBD per gram
• "ND" or "Not Detected" = below detection limit
• "LOQ" = Limit of Quantitation (lowest detectable amount)

3. Legal Compliance

The report should clearly indicate:

• Pass/Fail for Delta-9 THC: Under 0.3% = Pass
• Some labs calculate "Total THC" (THCA × 0.877 + Delta-9 THC)
• Federal compliance only requires Delta-9 under 0.3%

4. Contaminant Testing

Quality COAs test for harmful substances:

Pesticides:

• Should test for common agricultural pesticides
• Results should show "ND" or "Pass"
• Any detected pesticides are a concern

Heavy Metals:

• Lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium
• Hemp absorbs heavy metals from soil
• Should be below safe limits or not detected

Microbial Contaminants:

• Mold, yeast, bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella)
• Important for flower and edible products
• Should show "Pass" or within safe limits

Residual Solvents:

• Butane, propane, ethanol, etc.
• Only relevant for extracted products (not flower)
• Should be below safe limits

Red Flags to Watch For

• No COA available: Major red flag—reputable companies always test
• In-house testing only: Should be independent, third-party labs
• Old test dates: COAs should be recent (within 12 months)
• Generic COAs: Should be batch-specific, not one report for all products
• Missing contaminant testing: Cannabinoid profile alone isn't enough
• Results don't match label: If label says 1000mg CBD but COA shows 600mg
• Unverifiable lab: Google the lab—make sure it's real and accredited

Verifying a COA

1. Check the lab: Google the laboratory. Is it real? Is it accredited?
2. Match batch numbers: Does the batch ID on the COA match your product?
3. Verify with the lab: Many labs have online portals where you can enter the batch number to confirm authenticity
4. Look for QR codes: Some COAs have scannable codes linking to lab results

What "Full Panel Testing" Means

The best products undergo comprehensive "full panel" testing that includes:

• Cannabinoid potency
• Terpene profile
• Pesticides
• Heavy metals
• Microbial contaminants
• Mycotoxins
• Residual solvents

Not all products need every test (flower doesn't need solvent testing), but comprehensive testing shows the company takes quality seriously.

The Bottom Line

COAs are your best tool for verifying hemp product quality and safety. A legitimate COA should:

• Come from an accredited, independent lab
• Be batch-specific to your product
• Show Delta-9 THC under 0.3%
• Include contaminant testing
• Match what's claimed on the label

Don't buy from companies that can't provide COAs. The few extra dollars for tested products is worth knowing exactly what you're consuming.